Effect of homocysteine and homocysteic acid on glutamate receptors on rat lymphocytes.

Homocysteine and homocysteic acid increased the stationary level of reactive oxygen species in rat lymphocytes, homocysteic acid being more potent in this respect. The effect of this compound was realized via ionotropic NMDA receptors and group III metabotropic glutamate receptors. Incubation of lymphocytes with homocysteic acid increased intracellular Ca(2+)concentration, activated of protein kinase C, and induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which reflected the involvement of homocysteic acid into cell signaling mechanisms.