A novel mechanism underlying the protective effect of PDE4 inhibitor against cognitive impairment:inhibiting neuroinflammation through inducing autophagy in microglial cells

OBJECTIVE Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4) improves the learning and memory abilities in Alzheimer disease animal models. The cognition-enhancing effects of PDE4 inhibition involve reduced inflammatory responses in the brain. However,the underlying mechanisms are illunderstood. cA MP induces autophagy,and deficiency of autophagy leads to elevated inflammatory factors.In the present study,we aimed to investigate the contribution of autophagy to the anti-inflammatory effect of PDE4 inhibitor ROF. METHODS Acidic vesicles were traced by Lysotracker(LYT) red and acridine orange(AO) staining. Autophagosomes in BV-2 cells was observed by immunofluorescence staining of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3). Aβ_(25-35) or lipopolysaccharide(LPS) with ATP were used to activate microglial cells and inflammasome. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA method. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors and essential proteins involved in the formation of autophagosome were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS ROF increased the level of LC3-Ⅱ,while the level of p62 was decreased. Enhanced fluorescent signals were observed in BV-2 cells treated with ROF by AO and LYT red staining. In addition,immunofluorescence indicated a significant increase in punctate LC3. Both LPS plus ATP and Aβ_(25-35) enhanced the conversion of pro-caspase-1 to cleaved-caspase-1 and increased the production of mature IL-1β. Interestingly,these effects were blocked by the treatment of ROF. Moreover,ROF decreased the apoptosis of neuronal N2 a cells in conditioned media from BV-2 microglia. These effects were reversed by inhibition of microglial autophagy.Treatment with ROF also showedenhanced autophagy in mcie treated with LPS. CONCLUSION PDE4 inhibitor ROF inhibits inflammasome activities and reduces the release of IL-1β by inducing autophagy.

Endothelial phosphodiesterase 4B inactivation ameliorates endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal disorder characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and obstruction. The phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) family hydrolyzes cyclic AMP (cAMP) and is comprised of four subtypes (PDE4A–D). Previous studies have shown the beneficial effects of pan-PDE4 inhibitors in rodent PH;however, this class of drugs is associated with side effects owing to the broad inhibition of all four PDE4 isozymes. Here, we demonstrate that PDE4B is the predominant PDE isozyme in lungs and that it was upregulated in rodent and human PH lung tissues. We also confirmed that PDE4B is mainly expressed in the lung endothelial cells (ECs). Evaluation of PH in Pde4b wild type and knockout mice confirmed that Pde4b is important for the vascular remodeling associated with PH. In vivo EC lineage tracing demonstrated that Pde4b induces PH development by driving endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), and mechanistic studies showed that Pde4b regulates EndMT by antagonizing the cAMP-dependent PKA–CREB–BMPRII axis. Finally, treating PH rats with a PDE4B-specific inhibitor validated that PDE4B inhibition has a significant pharmacological effect in the alleviation of PH. Collectively, our findings indicate a critical role for PDE4B in EndMT and PH, prompting further studies of PDE4B-specific inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy for PH.

Role of PDE4D splice variants in the mediation of antidepressant and cognition-enhancing actions and its mechanisms

OBJECTIVE Phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4),specific for cyclicAMP(cAMP)-hydrolyzing,has four isoforms(PDE4A-D) with at least 25 splice variants. PDE4 inhibitors produce definite antidepressant-like and cognitive-enhancing effects. However,none of PDE4 inhibitors has yet been approved for clinical utility so far due to the concomitant side effects. The present research is to explore the splice variants of PDE4 D responsible for antidepressant-like and cognitive-enhancing effects of PDE4 inhibitors but not side effects. METHODS Long-form PDE4 Ds were silenced by the bilateral microinfusion of lentiviral vector containing mi RNAs(4Dmi R) into the prefrontal cortex(PFC),PDE4D4 or D5 was overexpressed by the bilateral microinfusion of lentiviral vector containing full c DNA into hippocampus. Antidepressant-like behaviors were measured by tail-suspension test(TST),forced swimming test(FST)and chronic unpredictable stress model. Cognitive behaviors were measured by the novel object recognition test(NOR) and Morris water maze test(MWM) in both normal mice and the mice with chronic unpredictable stress-induced memory deficits. The emetic potential was evaluated by the assessment of the anaesthetic reversal effect,a surrogate of the emesis test in non-vomiting species. The expressions of PDE4 isoforms/splice variants and cAMP level were examined by Western-blot and ELISA analysis. The dendritic complexity and spine density were assessed by Golgi staining. RESULTS(1)High and specific expression of EGFP(green,indicator of 4Dmi R expression) in PFC was observed under fluorescence microscopy.(2) 4Dmi R significantly down-regulated PDE4D4/5 splice variants,but not PDE4 A,PDE4 B or PDE4D1/2/3.(3) 4Dmi R treatments significantly increased cAMP signaling and dendritic complexity in PFC.(4) Rolipram and/or 4Dmi R treatments significantly decreased immobility in TST and FST.(5) Rolipram and/or 4Dmi R treatments reversed the depressive-like behaviors in chronically stressed mice,including the reduced sucrose preference,prolonged latency to novelty-suppressed feeding and increased immobility in FST.(6) Rolipram and/or 4Dmi R treatments significantly increased the recognition index in NOR task and both the entries and durations in MWM task.(7) Rolipram and/or 4Dmi R treatments reversed the memory deficits in chronically stressed mice,including the reduced the recognition index in NOR task and the decreased durations in MWM task.(8) Rolipram and/or 4DmiR treatments reversed the decreased cA MP signaling,dendritic complexity and spine density.(9) Rolipram or plus 4Dmi R treatment significantly decreased the duration of anaesthesia in the alpha2 adrenergic receptor-mediated anesthesia,but not 4Dmi R treatment alone.(10)Hippocampal overexpression of PDE4D5,but not PDE4D4,produced depressive-like and cognitive defect behaviors,which were reversed by rolipram.The measurements including cAMP signaling,dendritic complexity and in vivo hippocampal LTP,showed the same changes. CONCLUSION Long-form PDE4 Ds,especially the PDE4D5,are the major isoforms responsible for antidepressant-like and cognitive-enhancing effects with little side effects. The critical roles of long-form PDE4 Ds are mediated by their regulation of cAMP signaling pathway and neuroplasticity.

4-型磷酸二酯酶与局部cAMP信号调节（英文）

Of the eleven families of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases(PDEs) present in the human body,PDE4s represent the most widely expressed family of PDEs. A large body of work has been published on the expression and function of these PDEs,which preferentially hydrolyze cAMP in all cells studied,including neurons and supporting cells of the CNS. Four distinct genes termed PDE4 A,PDE4B,PDE4C and PDE4D encode PDE4 proteins. However,the number of PDE4s identified in different tissues and cells is estimated to be more than 30. Differences in regulation and localization explain this extreme heterogeneity. PDE4 hydrolytic activity is regulated by phosphorylation,and protein kinase A(PKA) was the first kinase identified. This PKA-dependent regulation establishes a feedback loop where cAMP regulates its own degradation to control the intensity and localization of the hormone and neurotransmitter signal. In addition,numerous additional kinases phosphorylate PDE4s to modulate the PKA-dependent activation and fine tune cAMP levels by growth factors and other extracellular cues. Thus,PDE4 can be considered a coincidence detector that integrates multiple signaling pathways. Finally,different PDE4s are involved in numerous macromolecular complexes targeting the cAMP hydrolytic activity to different subcellular domains. Thus,PDE4s function in different subcellular compartments,and inhibition of different isoforms affects cAMP levels in different subdomains with consequently different functions. The dyad space and the control of excitation/contraction will be used as examples of these localized regulations.

环核苷酸磷酸二酯酶:神经精神疾病的药物作用靶标(英文)

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the neurochemical and behavioral effects of inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases 2(PDE2) and PDE4 in the hope of identifying promising therapeutic targets and indications. METHODS Depression-and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by forced swimming,tail suspending and elevated plus maze tests. The memory enhancing effects were evaluated by Morris water maze test. RESULTS Inhibition of PDE4 results in antidepressant-like and memory-enhancing effects,in part due to increased cyclicAMP signaling.While targeting PDE4 subtypes(PDE4A-D) pharmacologically has proven challenging due to a highly conserved inhibitor-binding site in the catalytic region of the enzyme,some promise is offered by recently identified negative allosteric modulators of PDE4,which can act in a subtype-specific manner.While PDE2 has not been studied as extensively,it has been shown to be coded for by a single mammalian gene and to be highly expressed in the brain. Its inhibition results in anxiolytic-and antidepressant-like effects as wells as reducing oxidative stress and affording some degree of neuroprotection;these actions appear to be due to increased cyclicGMP signaling,even though PDE2 catalyzes the hydrolysis of both cyclicAMP and cyclicGMP. CONCLUSION Inhibitors targeting specific family of PDE may exhibit differential pharmacological effects and aid a more efficient pharmacotherapy towards neuropsychological conditions,while drug discovery efforts focusing on PDE2 are not as advanced as those for PDE4,some selective inhibitors are being developed and evaluated.