3'5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent up-regulation of phosphodiesterase type 3A in porcine cumulus cells

The means by which cumulus cells react to gonadotropin stimulation and regulate the subsequent production and degradation of cAMP are largely unknown. In this article, we report that cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 3A (Pde3a) is transcriptionally regulated in porcine cumulus cells by a cAMP-dependent pathway during in vitro maturation (IVM). cAMP-PDE activity was increased in the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) after 10 h of IVM, and 78% of this increase was sensitive to a Pde3-specific inhibitor, cilostamide. Although no variation was observed in the oocyte, cilostamide-sensitive cAMP-PDE activity increased in the cumulus cells after IVM. This was supported by Western blotting, which showed that the intensity of a 135-kDa anti-Pde3a immunoreactive band was increased in COC after IVM. The Pde3a mRNA level was up-regulated 28-fold in the COC after 4 h of IVM and remained high up to 12 h. The mRNA up-regulation and increased activity were inhibited by an RNA synthesis inhibitor, alpha-amanitin. The cilostamide-sensitive increase in PDE activity was inhibited by a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) caused dose-dependent activation of Pde3. The PMSG-dependent increase in Pde3 activity and Pde3a mRNA were mimicked by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin or prostaglandin E2. PMSG-dependent Pde3 activation was inhibited by the protein kinase A-specific inhibitor H89. Collectively, our results show for the first time that degradation of the intracellular cyclic nucleotide by Pde3a is transcriptionally up-regulated via a cAMP-dependent pathway in cumulus cells, suggesting that it has a functional role during the ovulatory gonadotropin surge.

The effects of increased cAMP content on inflammation, oxidative stress and PDE4 transcripts during Brucella melitensis infection

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is a key intracellular second messenger which at increased levels has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective effects. Its concentration is determined by the activities of both adenylate cyclase (AC) and the phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of increased cAMP and glucocorticoid dexamethasone administration on B. melitensis-induced lipid peroxidation, Brucella suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities and PDE4 transcripts in rats. Intracellular cyclic AMP level was elevated by two different approaches; activation of AC and inhibition of PDE activities. Rats were inoculated with B. melitensis for seven days then a single dose of nonselective PDE inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and dexamethasone were administrated to each infected group, and animals were challenged for 48 h. Brucella-induced lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by the cAMP elevating agents as well as dexamethasone administration in plasma, liver and spleen. The antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly decreased by the pathogen. Whilst suppressed GSH-Px activity was reversed by cAMP elevating agents, SOD activity was not restored. Superoxide generating enzyme xanthine oxidase activity was not altered at the end of the infection period. Brucella infection increased plasma IL-12 level and this effect was also suppressed by the cAMP elevating agents, whereas TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels were unchanged. Intracellular cAMP levels are entirely hydrolyzed by cAMP-specific PDE 4 isozymes (PDE4s) in inflammatory and immunocompetent cells. Brucella reduced mRNA transcript levels for PDE4A by 40%, though PDE4B and 4D transcriptions were being unaffected in spleen. It was concluded that B. melitensis infection decreased activity of the antioxidant defence system, induced lipid peroxidation and suppressed PDE4A transcription. Administration of cAMP elevating agents exhibited similar affect with dexamethasone on lipid peroxidation, IL-12 production and antioxidant enzyme activities in Brucella infection.

Attention-like processes in Drosophila require short-term memory genes

Although there is much behavioral evidence for complex brain functions in insects, it is not known whether insects have selective attention. In humans, selective attention is a dynamic process restricting perception to a succession of salient stimuli, while less relevant competing stimuli are suppressed. Local field potential recordings in the brains of flies responding to visual novelty revealed attention-like processes with stereotypical temporal properties. These processes were modulated by genes involved in short-term memory formation, namely dunce and rutabaga. Attention defects in these mutants were associated with distinct optomotor effects in behavioral assays.

A reporter gene assay for screening of PDE4 subtype selective inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) constitutes a superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cAMP and cGMP into their corresponding monophosphates and play an important role in diverse physiological functions. The present study provides a process for identifying PDE4 subtypes selective inhibitors using a reporter gene assay. Stable recombinant HEK-293 cell lines expressing high levels of PDE4A4B, PDE4B2A, and PDE4D3 subtypes individually were generated. Transient transfection of pCRE-Luc plasmid, harboring luciferase reporter gene under the control of cAMP response element (CRE)-binding sequence, into these stable recombinant cell lines followed by treatment with PDE4 inhibitor, resulted in a dose dependent increase in luciferase activity. This methods provide a novel, simple and sensitive assay for high throughput screening of PDE4 subtype selective inhibitors for treatment of asthma and COPD.

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 reduces cardiac apoptosis and dysfunction via inhibition of a phosphodiesterase 3A/inducible cAMP early repressor feedback loop

Substantial evidence suggests that the progressive loss of cardiomyocytes caused by apoptosis significantly contributes to the development of heart failure. beta-Adrenergic receptor activation and subsequent persistent phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) downregulation and concomitant inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) upregulation (PDE3A/ICER feedback loop) has been proposed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. In contrast, insulin-like growth factor-1 can activate cell survival pathways, providing protection against cell death and restoring muscle function. In this study, we found that insulin-like growth factor-1 activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) and inhibits PDE3A/ICER feedback loop. Insulin-like growth factor-1 normalized isoproterenol-mediated PDE3A downregulation and ICER upregulation via ERK5/MEF2 activation, and also inhibited isoproterenol-induced myocyte apoptosis. To determine the physiological relevance of ERK5 activation in regulating PDE3A/ICER feedback loop, we investigated the PDE3A/ICER expression and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in transgenic mice with cardiac specific expression of a constitutively active form of mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) kinase 5alpha (MEK5alpha) (CA-MEK5alpha-Tg). In wild-type mice, pressure overload- or doxorubicin-induced significant reduction of PDE3A expression and subsequent ICER induction. Cardiac specific expression of CA-MEK5alpha rescued pressure overload- or doxorubicin-mediated PDE3A downregulation and ICER upregulation and inhibited myocyte apoptosis as well as subsequent cardiac dysfunction in vivo. These data suggest that preventing the feedback loop of PDE3A/ICER by ERK5 activation could inhibit progression of myocyte apoptosis as well as cardiac dysfunction. These data suggest a new therapeutic paradigm for end stage of heart failure by inhibiting the PDE3A/ICER feedback loop via activating ERK5.

Role of DISC1 in neural development and schizophrenia

How can we hope to explain mechanistically the schizophrenic phenotype? Perhaps through the reductionist approach of genetics, which is beginning to yield biological clues. Growing evidence supports the view that the well-established genetic risk factor DISC1 plays an important role in schizophrenia biology by interacting with FEZ1 and NDEL1 during neurodevelopment and with the phosphodiesterase PDE4B in neuronal cell signalling. Thus, DISC1 and its pathways support the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and provide a mechanistic explanation for the characteristic cognitive deficits. Genetic variants of DISC1 also predispose to related affective (mood) disorders. As a consequence, we can speculate on the mechanisms of DISC1 action and possible routes to treatment for these common, debilitating brain disorders.

Alterations in regulation of energy homeostasis in cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B-null mice

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) has been suggested to be critical for mediating insulin/IGF-1 inhibition of cAMP signaling in adipocytes, liver, and pancreatic beta cells. In Pde3b-KO adipocytes we found decreased adipocyte size, unchanged insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of protein kinase B and activation of glucose uptake, enhanced catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis, and blocked insulin inhibition of catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis. Glucose, alone or in combination with glucagon-like peptide-1, increased insulin secretion more in isolated pancreatic KO islets, although islet size and morphology and immunoreactive insulin and glucagon levels were unchanged. The beta(3)-adrenergic agonist CL 316,243 (CL) increased lipolysis and serum insulin more in KO mice, but blood glucose reduction was less in CL-treated KO mice. Insulin resistance was observed in KO mice, with liver an important site of alterations in insulin-sensitive glucose production. In KO mice, liver triglyceride and cAMP contents were increased, and the liver content and phosphorylation states of several insulin signaling, gluconeogenic, and inflammation- and stress-related components were altered. Thus, PDE3B may be important in regulating certain cAMP signaling pathways, including lipolysis, insulin-induced antilipolysis, and cAMP-mediated insulin secretion. Altered expression and/or regulation of PDE3B may contribute to metabolic dysregulation, including systemic insulin resistance.

Foxp3-dependent programme of regulatory T-cell differentiation

Regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tr cells), the development of which is critically dependent on X-linked transcription factor Foxp3 (forkhead box P3), prevent self-destructive immune responses. Despite its important role, molecular and functional features conferred by Foxp3 to Tr precursor cells remain unknown. It has been suggested that Foxp3 expression is required for both survival of Tr precursors as well as their inability to produce interleukin (IL)-2 and independently proliferate after T-cell-receptor engagement, raising the possibility that such 'anergy' and Tr suppressive capacity are intimately linked. Here we show, by dissociating Foxp3-dependent features from those induced by the signals preceding and promoting its expression in mice, that the latter signals include several functional and transcriptional hallmarks of Tr cells. Although its function is required for Tr cell suppressor activity, Foxp3 to a large extent amplifies and fixes pre-established molecular features of Tr cells, including anergy and dependence on paracrine IL-2. Furthermore, Foxp3 solidifies Tr cell lineage stability through modification of cell surface and signalling molecules, resulting in adaptation to the signals required to induce and maintain Tr cells. This adaptation includes Foxp3-dependent repression of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B, affecting genes responsible for Tr cell homeostasis.

Expression of the cAMP-phosphodiesterase PDE4D isoforms and age-related changes in follicle-stimulating hormone-stimulated PDE4 activities in immature rat sertoli cells

Major changes in the cAMP-dependent signal transduction pathway triggered by FSH take place during transition of rat Sertoli cells from proliferative to the quiescent/terminally differentiated state. Using Sertoli cell cultures isolated from 10-, 20-, and 30-day-old rats, we recorded a specific increase in PDE4 activity in both the soluble and particulate subcellular fractions of 20-day-old Sertoli cells, which also displayed the highest cAMP response to FSH and the highest FSH-induced increase in PDE4 activity in both subcellular compartments. RT-PCR and immunoblotting experiments showed that almost all the PDE4D isoforms, known as the main cAMP-regulated rolipram-sensitive PDE in Sertoli cells, were expressed throughout the early postpartum period, whereas only the short PDE4D isoforms (PDE4D1 and PDE4D2) were transcriptionally regulated by FSH. Unexpectedly, the immunoblot data also revealed that the soluble PDE4 activities were mainly related to the long PDE4D isoforms and that short PDE4D1 was predominantly particulate. The subcellular distribution and expression of PDE4D proteins were unaffected by the developmental status of the Sertoli cells. Only the expression of short PDE4D1 appeared to be upregulated by FSH and only in 20-day-old Sertoli cells, which suggests phenotype-dependent differential regulation of Pde4d1 mRNA translation. Resensitization of the cAMP response to FSH in 20-day-old Sertoli cells was also associated with the highest FSH-induced transient increase in both soluble and particulate PDE4 activities, which suggests developmental changes in the PKA-mediated upregulation of the catalytic activities of long PDE4D. Such alterations may be involved in the phenotype-dependent alterations in FSH receptor coupling with its associated G proteins in rat Sertoli cells.

Chronic nicotine doses down-regulate PDE4 isoforms that are targets of antidepressants in adolescent female rats

BACKGROUND

Previous data in humans and animal models has suggested connections between anxiety, depression, smoking behavior, and nicotine dependence. The importance of these connections has been confirmed by clinical studies that led to the recent FDA approval of an anti-depressant (Zyban) for use in human smoking cessation programs. Other anti-depressants (such as rolipram) specifically inhibit PDE4 phosphodiesterases.

METHODS

We used DNA microarrays to discover gene expression changes in adolescent female rats following chronic nicotine treatments, and real-time PCR assays to confirm and extend those results.

RESULTS

We found a consistent decrease in the mRNA levels encoded by the Pde4b gene in nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus of adolescent female rats treated with .24 mg/day nicotine, and in prefrontal cortex of adolescent female rats treated with .12 mg/day nicotine. We further show that each of these brain areas produced a different profile of Pde4b isoforms.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic nicotine treatments produce a dose-dependent down-regulation of Pde4b, which may have an antidepressant effect. This is the first report of a link between nicotine dependence and phosphodiesterase gene expression. Our results also add to the complex interrelationships between smoking and schizophrenia, because mutations in the PDE4B gene are associated with schizophrenia.

Modulation of Leydig cell function by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 8A

Leydig cells produce testosterone in the testes under the pulsatile control of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH). cAMP is the intracellular messenger for LH action on steroidogenesis, and pharmacological evidence indicates that the response to LH can be modulated by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). However the types and roles of the PDEs present in Leydig cells have not been fully defined. We report here that PDE8A is expressed in Leydig cells, and using PDE8A knockout mice we provide evidence that PDE8A is a key regulator of LH signaling and steroidogenesis. A 4-fold increase in the sensitivity to LH for testosterone production was detected in Leydig cells isolated from PDE8A knockout mice. In Leydig cells from wild-type mice, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a compound that inhibits all cAMP PDEs except PDE8A, elicited only a small increase in the sensitivity of testosterone production to LH. However, in the PDE8-null mice, the effect of this inhibitor is much more pronounced. These observations indicate that PDE8A and at least one other PDE control the same or a complementary pool of cAMP that mediates LH-regulated steroidogenesis. Overall, these results suggest that pharmacological manipulation of PDE8A, alone or in combination with other PDEs present in Leydig cells, may be exploited to modulate testosterone synthesis and possibly to treat various conditions where the local levels of this androgen need to be altered.

PGE(1) stimulation of HEK293 cells generates multiple contiguous domains with different [cAMP]: role of compartmentalized phosphodiesterases

There is a growing appreciation that the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)–protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway is organized to form transduction units that function to deliver specific messages. Such organization results in the local activation of PKA subsets through the generation of confined intracellular gradients of cAMP, but the mechanisms responsible for limiting the diffusion of cAMP largely remain to be clarified. In this study, by performing real-time imaging of cAMP, we show that prostaglandin 1 stimulation generates multiple contiguous, intracellular domains with different cAMP concentration in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. By using pharmacological and genetic manipulation of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), we demonstrate that compartmentalized PDE4B and PDE4D are responsible for selectively modulating the concentration of cAMP in individual subcellular compartments. We propose a model whereby compartmentalized PDEs, rather than representing an enzymatic barrier to cAMP diffusion, act as a sink to drain the second messenger from discrete locations, resulting in multiple and simultaneous domains with different cAMP concentrations irrespective of their distance from the site of cAMP synthesis.

Compartmentalization of cAMP-dependent signaling by phosphodiesterase-4D is involved in the regulation of vasopressin-mediated water reabsorption in renal principal cells

The cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent insertion of water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2)-bearing vesicles into the plasma membrane in renal collecting duct principal cells (AQP2 shuttle) constitutes the molecular basis of arginine vasopressin (AVP)-regulated water reabsorption. cAMP/PKA signaling systems are compartmentalized by A kinase anchoring proteins (AKAP) that tether PKA to subcellular sites and by phosphodiesterases (PDE) that terminate PKA signaling through hydrolysis of localized cAMP. In primary cultured principal cells, AVP causes focal activation of PKA. PKA and cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase-4D (PDE4D) are located on AQP2-bearing vesicles. The selective PDE4 inhibitor rolipram increases AKAP-tethered PKA activity on AQP2-bearing vesicles and enhances the AQP2 shuttle and thereby the osmotic water permeability. AKAP18delta, which is located on AQP2-bearing vesicles, directly interacts with PDE4D and PKA. In response to AVP, PDE4D and AQP2 translocate to the plasma membrane. Here PDE4D is activated through PKA phosphorylation and reduces the osmotic water permeability. Taken together, a novel, compartmentalized, and physiologically relevant cAMP-dependent signal transduction module on AQP2-bearing vesicles, comprising anchored PDE4D, AKAP18delta, and PKA, has been identified.

Gene expression and protein localization of calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase in adult rat retina

Calcium calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE1) was identified in crude extract and immunolabeled sections of rat retina. Both cAMP and cGMP PDE activities were stimulated by calcium-calmodulin (4.7-fold and 2.3-fold, respectively). To characterize PDE1 isoforms in retinal cells further, we used antibodies that specifically recognize PDE1 gene products. PDE1B antibody stained a band at molecular mass of 63 kDa whereas PDE1C antibody recognized two bands at 74- and 70-kDa molecular masses. Two PDE1A antibodies (against N-terminal and C-terminal peptides) detected a band at 79 kDa never described before. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a distribution of PDE1A in the outer retina with a bright fluorescence in the outer segments of photoreceptors. PDE1B is uniformly distributed across the retina. PDE1C is confined mainly to the inner retina, with a precise localization in the inner nuclear layer. Immunostaining with choline acetyltransferase antibody indicates localization in cholinergic amacrine cell. The present data provide evidence of expression of PDE1 isoforms in mammalian retina with a complementary distribution of PDE1A and PDE1C, suggesting different roles in retinal function.

Association of phosphodiesterase 4D gene polymorphisms with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relationship to interleukin 13 gene polymorphism

Activation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathway leads to the suppression of inflammation in the airways and relaxation of airway smooth muscle. Intracellular cAMP levels are determined by a balance between the activities of adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterases. We hypothesized that polymorphisms of the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene activate its protein function which leads to the downregulation of cAMP, resulting in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A case-control study was performed using Japanese (96 COPD patients and 61 controls) and Egyptians (106 COPD patients and 72 controls) to investigate the association between the polymorphisms of the PDE4D gene and the development of COPD. Genotyping of all subjects for SNP7 (dbSNP ID, rs10075508), SNP13 (rs829259) and SNP15 (rs702531) in exon 15 of the PDE4D gene was conducted. Furthermore, the distributions of haplotypes consisting of PDE4D polymorphisms and those of interleukin (IL) 4, IL13 and beta2 adrenoceptor were analyzed. The distribution of SNP13 allele frequencies of the PDE4D gene was significantly different between the COPD and control groups in the Japanese population (p = 0.041). In haplotype analysis, haplotypes composed of PDE4D SNP7 and IL13 +2044 G/A in the Japanese population showed significant difference between the patients and controls (pcorr = 0.00048). Thus, SNP13 and haplotypes, SNP7 G/A and IL13 +2044 G/A, may be useful for predicting COPD susceptibility.

Abundance of intrinsic disorder in protein associated with cardiovascular disease

Evidence that many protein regions and even entire proteins lacking stable tertiary and/or secondary structure in solution (i.e., intrinsically disordered proteins) might be involved in protein-protein interactions, regulation, recognition, and signal transduction is rapidly accumulating. These signaling proteins play a crucial role in the development of several pathological conditions, including cancer. To test a hypothesis that intrinsic disorder is also abundant in cardiovascular disease (CVD), a data set of 487 CVD-related proteins was extracted from SWISS-PROT. CVD-related proteins are depleted in major order-promoting residues (Trp, Phe, Tyr, Ile, and Val) and enriched in some disorder-promoting residues (Arg, Gln, Ser, Pro, and Glu). The application of a neural network predictor of natural disordered regions (PONDR VL-XT) together with cumulative distribution function (CDF) analysis, charge-hydropathy plot (CH plot) analysis, and alpha-helical molecular recognition feature (alpha-MoRF) indicator revealed that CVD-related proteins are enriched in intrinsic disorder. In fact, the percentage of proteins with 30 or more consecutive residues predicted by PONDR VL-XT to be disordered was 57 +/- 4% for CVD-associated proteins. This value is close that described earlier for signaling proteins (66 +/- 6%) and is significantly larger than the content of intrinsic disorder in eukaryotic proteins from SWISS-PROT (47 +/- 4%) and in nonhomologous protein segments with a well-defined three-dimensional structure (13 +/- 4%). Furthermore, CDF and CH-plot analyses revealed that 120 and 36 CVD-related proteins, respectively, are wholly disordered. This high level of intrinsic disorder could be important for the function of CVD-related proteins and for the control and regulation of processes associated with cardiovascular disease. In agreement with this hypothesis, 198 alpha-MoRFs were predicted in 101 proteins from the CVD data set. A comparison of disorder predictions with the experimental structural and functional data for a subset of the CVD-associated proteins indicated good agreement between predictions and observations. Thus, our data suggest that intrinsically disordered proteins might play key roles in cardiovascular disease.

New insight into the role of phosphodiesterase 3A in porcine oocyte maturation

Background

The ovulatory surge of gonadotropins triggers oocyte maturation and rupture of the ovarian follicle. The resumption of nuclear maturation in the oocyte from the prophase stage is characterized by germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). It has previously been shown that specific inhibition of cAMP degradation by PDE3 prevents the resumption of oocyte meiosis. However, no report has characterized the activity of PDE3 in the porcine oocyte, or the implication of the cAMP-PDE3 pathway in the entire nuclear maturation process. In this study, PDE3 activity in the oocyte was assessed during in vitro maturation (IVM) and the possible roles of the cAMP-PDE3 pathway in the resumption and progression of meiosis were investigated in terms of different models of oocyte maturation.

Results

Cyclic AMP-degrading PDE activity was detected in the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) and was partially inhibited by a specific PDE3 inhibitor, cilostamide. When measured only in the denuded oocyte, PDE activity was almost completely inhibited by cilostamide, suggesting that cAMP-PDE3 activity is the major cAMP-PDE in porcine oocytes. PDE3A mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. PDE3 activity did not vary significantly during the early hours of IVM, but a maximum was observed at 13 hours. In cumulus-oocyte complexes, meiosis resumed after 20.81 hours of culture. PDE3 inhibition no longer maintained meiotic arrest if sustained beyond 17.65 hours of IVM, 3 hours prior to resumption of meiosis. Thereafter, PDE3 inhibition progressively lost its efficacy in GVBD. When the protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor okadaic acid was continuously or transiently (3 hours) present during IVM, meiosis resumed prematurely; PDE3 inhibition was unable to prevent GVBD. However, PDE3 inhibition in COC treated with OA for 3 hours significantly delayed meiosis at the intermediate stage.

Conclusion

The present investigation has demonstrated that PDE3A is the major cAMP-degrading PDE in the oocyte. It regulates the resumption of meiosis until 3 hours prior to GVBD and transiently affects meiotic progression.

Hemodialysis modulates gene expression profile in skeletal muscle

BACKGROUND

Uremia alters diverse metabolic pathways involving multiple organ systems, including skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle has an important role in nutrition, metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We hypothesized that hemodialysis (HD) will change the genomic fingerprinting associated with uremia and facilitate expression of a distinct set of genes.

METHODS

Five patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were studied. Skeletal muscle biopsy specimens from the vastus lateralis were obtained before (pre-HD) and during the last 10 minutes of HD (post-HD). Oligonucleotide microarray (version 2, GeneChip arrays; Affymetrix U95A, Santa Clara, CA) was used to analyze global transcriptional modification in skeletal muscle by HD. Pre-HD data were compared with data from 3 subjects without renal failure.

RESULTS

In skeletal muscle of patients with ESRD, 83 genes were upregulated and 8 genes were downregulated pre-HD compared with controls. Pathway analysis linked 55 genes to 5 gene networks involved in the regulation of cell cycle, cell proliferation, cellular organization, apoptosis, and inflammation. During HD, expression of 22 genes increased and 1 (TOB1) decreased. Pathway analysis mapped 20 genes to 2 genetic networks involved in: (1) inflammation, cell proliferation, and cell signaling; and (2) apoptosis, cell function, protein synthesis, and tissue morphology. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed increased expression of GADD45A, BTG2, PDE4B, and CEBPD and downregulation of TOB1 in skeletal muscle intradialysis.

CONCLUSION

In response to the uremic milieu, skeletal muscle goes through very active transcriptional and translational changes. HD activates a diverse, yet biologically linked, network of genes related to inflammation and apoptosis in skeletal muscle.

Characterization of a novel cAMP-binding, cAMP-specific cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (TcrPDEB1) from Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, encodes a number of different cAMP-specific PDE (phosphodiesterase) families. Here we report the identification and characterization of TcrPDEB1 and its comparison with the previously identified TcrPDEB2 (formerly known as TcPDE1). These are two different PDE enzymes of the TcrPDEB family, named in accordance with the recent recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee for Kinetoplast PDEs [Kunz, Beavo, D'Angelo, Flawia, Francis, Johner, Laxman, Oberholzer, Rascon, Shakur et al. (2006) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 145, 133-135]. Both enzymes show resistance to inhibition by many mammalian PDE inhibitors, and those that do inhibit do so with appreciable differences in their inhibitor profiles for the two enzymes. Both enzymes contain two GAF (cGMP-specific and -stimulated phosphodiesterases, Anabaena adenylate cyclases and Escherichia coli FhlA) domains and a catalytic domain highly homologous with that of the T. brucei TbPDE2/TbrPDEB2 family. The N-terminus+GAF-A domains of both enzymes showed significant differences in their affinities for cyclic nucleotide binding. Using a calorimetric technique that allows accurate measurements of low-affinity binding sites, the TcrPDEB2 N-terminus+GAF-A domain was found to bind cAMP with an affinity of approximately 500 nM. The TcrPDEB1 N-terminus+GAF-A domain bound cAMP with a slightly lower affinity of approximately 1 muM. The N-terminus+GAF-A domain of TcrPDEB1 did not bind cGMP, whereas the N-terminus+GAF-A domain of TcrPDEB2 bound cGMP with a low affinity of approximately 3 muM. GAF domains homologous with those found in these proteins were also identified in related trypanosomatid parasites. Finally, a fluorescent cAMP analogue, MANT-cAMP [2'-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate], was found to be a substrate for the TcPDEB1 catalytic domain, opening the possibility of using this molecule as a substrate in non-radioactive, fluorescence-based PDE assays, including screening for trypanosome PDE inhibitors.

Expression and activity of cAMP phosphodiesterase isoforms in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from patients with pulmonary hypertension: role for PDE1

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is associated with increased vascular resistance due to sustained contraction and enhanced proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC); the abnormal tone and remodeling in the pulmonary vasculature may relate, at least in part, to decreased cyclic nucleotide levels. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), of which 11 families have been identified, catalyze the hydrolysis of cAMP and cGMP. We tested the hypothesis that PASMC isolated from patients with PHT, either idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) or secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH), have increased expression and activity of PDE isoforms that reduce the responsiveness of agents that raise cellular cAMP. Real-time PCR and immunoblotting demonstrated that the expression of PDE1A, PDE1C, PDE3B, and PDE5A was enhanced in PASMC from both IPAH and SPH patients compared with control PASMC. Consistent with this enhanced expression of PDEs, agonist-stimulated cAMP levels were significantly reduced in IPAH and SPH PASMC unless a PDE inhibitor was present. The use of specific PDE inhibitors revealed that an increase in PDE1 and PDE3 activity largely accounted for reduced agonist-induced cAMP levels and increased proliferation in IPAH and SPH PASMC. Treatment with PDE1C-targeted small interference RNA enhanced cAMP accumulation and inhibited cellular proliferation to a greater extent in PHT PASMC than controls. The results imply that an increase in PDE isoforms, in particular PDE1C, contributes to decreased cAMP and increased proliferation of PASMC in patients with PHT. PDE1 isoforms may provide novel targets for the treatment of both primary and secondary forms of the disease.

New Insights from the Structure-Function Analysis of the Catalytic Region of Human Platelet Phosphodiesterase 3A

Human phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) degrades cAMP, the major inhibitor of platelet function, thus potentiating platelet function. Of the 11 human PDEs, only PDE3A and 3B have 44-amino acid inserts in the catalytic domain. Their function is not clear. Incubating Sp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic-S-(4-bromo-2,3-di-oxobutyl) monophosphorothioate (Sp-cAMPS-BDB) with PDE3A irreversibly inactivates the enzyme. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of a tryptic digest yielded an octapeptide within the insert of PDE3A ((K)T(806)YNVTDDK(813)), suggesting that a substrate-binding site exists within the insert. Because Sp-cAMPS-BDB reacts with nucleophilic residues, mutants Y807A, D811A, and D812A were produced. Sp-cAMPS-BDB inactivates D811A and D812A but not Y807A. A docking model showed that Tyr(807) is 3.3 angstroms from the reactive carbon, whereas Asp(811) and Asp(812) are >15 angstroms away from Sp-cAMPS-BDB. Y807A has an altered K(m) but no change in k(cat). Activity of wild type but not Y807A is inhibited by an anti-insert antibody. These data suggest that Tyr(807) is modified by Sp-cAMPS-BDB and involved in substrate binding. Because the homologous amino acid in PDE3B is Cys(792), we prepared the mutant Y807C and found that its K(m) and k(cat) were similar to the wild type. Moreover, Sp-cAMPS-BDB irreversibly inactivates Y807C with similar kinetics to wild type, suggesting that the tyrosine may, like the cysteine, serve as a H donor. Kinetic analyses of nine additional insert mutants reveal that H782A, T810A, Y814A, and C816S exhibit an altered k(cat) but not K(m), indicating that catalysis is modulated. We document a new functional role for the insert in which substrate binding may produce a conformational change. This change would allow the substrate to bind to Tyr(807) and other amino acids in the insert to interact with residues important for catalysis in the active site cleft.

Association between phosphodiesterase 4D gene and ischaemic stroke

BACKGROUND

An association between the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene and risk of ischaemic stroke in an Icelandic population has been suggested by the deCODE group.

METHODS

A case-control study of 151 hospitalised patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke and 164 randomly selected age-matched and sex-matched community controls was conducted. PDE4D genotypes for the six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously reported to be independently associated with stroke were determined, common haplotypes were inferred using the expectation-maximisation algorithm, and SNP and haplotype associations with stroke were examined. A meta-analysis of published studies examining the association between PDE4D and stroke was also carried out.

RESULTS

Our study of Australian patients with stroke showed an independent association between ischaemic stroke and PDE4D SNP 89 (CC: odds ratio (OR) 5.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02 to 30.19; CA: OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.96; AA: OR 1 (reference)), SNP 87 (CC: OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.20; TC: OR 1.64, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.00; TT: OR 1 (reference)) and SNP 83 (TT: OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.32; TC: OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.43; CC: OR 1 (reference)), and between ischaemic stroke and PDE4D haplotypes at SNP 89-87-83 (A-C-C: OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.96; C-C-T: OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.92), but no association between ischaemic stroke and PDE4D SNP 56, SNP 45 or SNP 41, or with PDE4D haplotypes at SNP 56-45-41. A meta-analysis of nine case-control studies (including our current results) of 3808 stroke cases and 4377 controls confirmed a significant association between stroke and PDE SNP 87 (pooled p = 0.002), SNP 83 (0.003) and SNP 41 (0.003). However, there was statistical heterogeneity (p < 0.1) among the studies in the direction of association for each of the individual SNPs tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results and the pooled analyses from all the studies indicate a strong association between PDE4D and ischaemic stroke. This strengthens the evidence that PDE4D plays a key part in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke. Heterogeneity among the studies in the direction of association between individual SNPs and stroke suggests that the SNPs tested are in linkage disequilibrium with the causal allele(s).

Selective blockade of phosphodiesterase types 2, 5 and 9 results in cyclic 3'5' guanosine monophosphate accumulation in retinal pigment epithelium cells

AIM

To investigate which phosphodiesterase (PDE) is involved in regulating cyclic 3'5' guanosine monophosphate breakdown in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.

METHODS

cGMP content in the cultured RPE cells (D407 cell line) was evaluated by immunocytochemistry in the presence of non-selective or isoform-selective PDE inhibitors in combination with the particulate guanylyl cyclase stimulator atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) or the soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulator sodium nitroprusside (SNP). mRNA expression of PDE2, PDE5 and PDE9 was studied in cultured human RPE cells and rat RPE cell layers using non-radioactive in situ hybridisation.

RESULTS

In the absence of PDE inhibitors, cGMP levels in cultured RPE cells are very low. cGMP accumulation was readily detected in cultured human RPE cells after incubation with Bay60-7550 as a selective PDE2 inhibitor, sildenafil as a selective PDE5 inhibitor or Sch51866 as a selective PDE9 inhibitor. In the presence of PDE inhibition, cGMP content increased markedly after stimulation of the particulate guanylyl cyclase. mRNA of PDE2,PDE5 and PDE9 was detected in all cultured human RPE cells and also in rat RPE cell layers.

CONCLUSIONS

PDE2, PDE5 and PDE9 have a role in cGMP metabolism in RPE cells.