Human PDE4A8, a novel brain-expressed PDE4 cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase that has undergone rapid evolutionary change

Phosphodiesterase 4B inhibition: a potential novel strategy for treating pulmonary fibrosis

Patients with interstitial lung disease can develop a progressive fibrosing phenotype characterised by an irreversible, progressive decline in lung function despite treatment. Current therapies slow, but do not reverse or stop, disease progression and are associated with side-effects that can cause treatment delay or discontinuation. Most crucially, mortality remains high. There is an unmet need for more efficacious and better-tolerated and -targeted treatments for pulmonary fibrosis. Pan-phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors have been investigated in respiratory conditions. However, the use of oral inhibitors can be complicated due to class-related systemic adverse events, including diarrhoea and headaches. The PDE4B subtype, which has an important role in inflammation and fibrosis, has been identified in the lungs. Preferentially targeting PDE4B has the potential to drive anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects via a subsequent increase in cAMP, but with improved tolerability. Phase I and II trials of a novel PDE4B inhibitor in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have shown promising results, stabilising pulmonary function measured by change in forced vital capacity from baseline, while maintaining an acceptable safety profile. Further research into the efficacy and safety of PDE4B inhibitors in larger patient populations and for a longer treatment period is needed.

Clinical Implication of Phosphodiesterase-4-Inhibition

The pleiotropic function of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent pathways in health and disease led to the development of pharmacological phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE-I) to attenuate cAMP degradation. While there are many isotypes of PDE, a predominant role of PDE4 is to regulate fundamental functions, including endothelial and epithelial barrier stability, modulation of inflammatory responses and cognitive and/or mood functions. This makes the use of PDE4-I an interesting tool for various therapeutic approaches. However, due to the presence of PDE4 in many tissues, there is a significant danger for serious side effects. Based on this, the aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the approaches and effects of PDE4-I for different therapeutic applications. In summary, despite many obstacles to use of PDE4-I for different therapeutic approaches, the current data warrant future research to utilize the therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition.

The Molecular Biology of Phosphodiesterase 4 Enzymes as Pharmacological Targets: An Interplay of Isoforms, Conformational States, and Inhibitors

The phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzyme family plays a pivotal role in regulating levels of the second messenger cAMP. Consequently, PDE4 inhibitors have been investigated as a therapeutic strategy to enhance cAMP signaling in a broad range of diseases, including several types of cancers, as well as in various neurologic, dermatological, and inflammatory diseases. Despite their widespread therapeutic potential, the progression of PDE4 inhibitors into the clinic has been hampered because of their related relatively small therapeutic window, which increases the chance of producing adverse side effects. Interestingly, the PDE4 enzyme family consists of several subtypes and isoforms that can be modified post-translationally or can engage in specific protein-protein interactions to yield a variety of conformational states. Inhibition of specific PDE4 subtypes, isoforms, or conformational states may lead to more precise effects and hence improve the safety profile of PDE4 inhibition. In this review, we provide an overview of the variety of PDE4 isoforms and how their activity and inhibition is influenced by post-translational modifications and interactions with partner proteins. Furthermore, we describe the importance of screening potential PDE4 inhibitors in view of different PDE4 subtypes, isoforms, and conformational states rather than testing compounds directed toward a specific PDE4 catalytic domain. Lastly, potential mechanisms underlying PDE4-mediated adverse effects are outlined. In this review, we illustrate that PDE4 inhibitors retain their therapeutic potential in myriad diseases, but target identification should be more precise to establish selective inhibition of disease-affected PDE4 isoforms while avoiding isoforms involved in adverse effects. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Although the PDE4 enzyme family is a therapeutic target in an extensive range of disorders, clinical use of PDE4 inhibitors has been hindered because of the adverse side effects. This review elaborately shows that safer and more effective PDE4 targeting is possible by characterizing 1) which PDE4 subtypes and isoforms exist, 2) how PDE4 isoforms can adopt specific conformations upon post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions, and 3) which PDE4 inhibitors can selectively bind specific PDE4 subtypes, isoforms, and/or conformations.

Roflumilast, a cAMP-Specific Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitor, Reduces Oxidative Stress and Improves Synapse Functions in Human Cortical Neurons Exposed to the Excitotoxin Quinolinic Acid

The overexpression of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzymes is reported in several neurodegenerative diseases. PDE4 depletes cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and, in turn, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the key players in cognitive function. The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism behind the protective effects of roflumilast (ROF), a cAMP-specific PDE4 inhibitor, against quinolinic acid (QUIN)-induced neurotoxicity using human primary cortical neurons. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using an MTS assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by DCF-DA and JC-10 staining, respectively. Caspase 3/7 activity was measured using an ApoTox-Glo Triplex assay kit. cAMP was measured using an ELISA kit. The protein expression of CREB, BDNF, SAP-97, synaptophysin, synapsin-I, and PSD-95 was analyzed by the Western blotting technique. QUIN exposure down-regulated CREB, BDNF, and synaptic protein expression in neurons. Pretreatment with ROF increased the intracellular cAMP, mitochondrial membrane potential, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) content and decreased the ROS and caspase 3/7 levels in QUIN-exposed neurons. ROF up-regulated the expression of synapse proteins SAP-97, synaptophysin, synapsin-I, PSD-95, and CREB and BDNF, which indicates its potential role in memory. This study suggests for the first time that QUIN causes pre- and postsynaptic protein damage. We further demonstrate the restorative effects of ROF on the mitochondrial membrane potential and antiapoptotic properties in human neurons. These data encourage further investigations to reposition ROF in neurodegenerative diseases and their associated cognitive deficits.

Phosphodiesterase-4 enzyme as a therapeutic target in neurological disorders

Phosphodiesterases (PDE) are a diverse family of enzymes (11 isoforms so far identified) responsible for the degradation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) which are involved in several cellular and biochemical functions. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is the major isoform within this group and is highly expressed in the mammalian brain. An inverse association between PDE4 and cAMP levels is the key mechanism in various pathophysiological conditions like airway inflammatory diseases-chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological disorders etc. In 2011, roflumilast, a PDE4 inhibitor (PDE4I) was approved for the treatment of COPD. Subsequently, other PDE4 inhibitors (PDE4Is) like apremilast and crisaborole were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis etc. Due to the adverse effects like unbearable nausea and vomiting, dose intolerance and diarrhoea, PDE4 inhibitors have very less clinical compliance. Efforts are being made to develop allosteric modulation with high specificity to PDE4 isoforms having better efficacy and lesser adverse effects. Interestingly, repositioning PDE4Is towards neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and sleep disorders, is gaining attention. This review is an attempt to summarize the data on the effects of PDE4 overexpression in neurological disorders and the use of PDE4Is and newer allosteric modulators as therapeutic options. We have also compiled a list of on-going clinical trials on PDE4 inhibitors in neurological disorders.

Phosphodiesterases as therapeutic targets for respiratory diseases

Chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, affect millions of people all over the world. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) which is one of the most important second messengers, plays a vital role in relaxing airway smooth muscles and suppressing inflammation. Given its vast role in regulating intracellular responses, cAMP provides an attractive pharmaceutical target in the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes that hydrolyze cyclic nucleotides and help control cyclic nucleotide signals in a compartmentalized manner. Currently, the selective PDE4 inhibitor, roflumilast, is used as an add-on treatment for patients with severe COPD associated with bronchitis and a history of frequent exacerbations. In addition, other novel PDE inhibitors are in different phases of clinical trials. The current review provides an overview of the regulation of various PDEs and the potential application of selective PDE inhibitors in the treatment of COPD and asthma. The possibility to combine various PDE inhibitors as a way to increase their therapeutic effectiveness is also emphasized.

A. Phosphodiesterases and cAMP Pathway in Pituitary Diseases

Human phosphodiesterases (PDEs) comprise a complex superfamily of enzymes derived from 24 genes separated into 11 PDE gene families (PDEs 1-11), expressed in different tissues and cells, including heart and brain. The isoforms PDE4, PDE7, and PDE8 are specific for the second messenger cAMP, which is responsible for mediating diverse physiological actions involving different hormones and neurotransmitters. The cAMP pathway plays an important role in the development and function of endocrine tissues while phosphodiesterases are responsible for ensuring the appropriate intensity of the actions of this pathway by hydrolyzing cAMP to its inactive form 5'-AMP. PDE1, PDE2, PDE4, and PDE11A are highly expressed in the pituitary, and overexpression of some PDE4 isoforms have been demonstrated in different pituitary adenoma subtypes. This observed over-expression in pituitary adenomas, although of unknown etiology, has been considered a compensatory response to tumorigenesis. PDE4A4/5 has a unique interaction with the co-chaperone aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP), a protein implicated in somatotroph tumorigenesis via germline loss-of-function mutations. Based on the association of low PDE4A4 expression with germline AIP-mutation-positive samples, the available data suggest that lack of AIP hinders the upregulation of PDE4A4 protein seen in sporadic somatotrophinomas. This unique disturbance of the cAMP-PDE pathway observed in the majority of AIP-mutation positive adenomas could contribute to their well-described poor response to somatostatin analogs and may support a role in tumorigenesis.

Reduced protein expression of the phosphodiesterases PDE4A4 and PDE4A8 in AIP mutation positive somatotroph adenomas

Type 4 phosphodiesterases (PDE4s) of the large PDE enzyme superfamily have unique specificity for cAMP and may, therefore, be relevant for somatotroph tumorigenesis. Somatotroph adenomas typically overexpress PDEs probably as part of a compensatory mechanism to reduce cAMP levels. The rat PDE4A5 isoform (human homolog PDE4A4) interacts with the AIP protein, coded by a tumour suppressor gene mutated in a subgroup of familial isolated pituitary adenomas (FIPAs). PDE4A8 is the closest related isoform of PDE4A4. We aimed to evaluate the expression of both PDE4A4 and PDE4A8 in GH cells of AIP-mutated adenomas and compare their expression with that in GH cells from sporadic AIP-mutation negative GH-secreting adenomas, where we had shown previously that both PDE4A4 and PDE4A8 isoforms had been over-expressed. Confocal immunofluorescence analysis showed that both PDE4A8 and PDE4A4 had lower expression in AIP-mutated somatotropinoma samples compared to sporadic GH-secreting tumours (P < 0.0001 for both). Based on the association of low PDE4A4 and PDE4A8 expression with germline AIP-mutations positive samples we suggest that lack of AIP hinders the upregulation of PDE4A8 and PDE4A4 protein seen in sporadic somatotrophinomas. These data point to a unique disturbance of the cAMP-PDE pathway in AIP-mutation positive adenomas, which may help to explain their well-described poor response to somatostatin analogues.

The Past, Present, and Future of Phosphodiesterase-4 Modulation for Age-Induced Memory Loss

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the state of progress for phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) modulation as a potential therapeutic for psychiatric illness, and to draw attention to particular hurdles and obstacles that must be overcome in future studies to develop PDE4-mediated therapeutics. Pathological and non-pathological related memory loss will be the focus of the chapter; however, we will at times also touch upon other psychiatric illnesses like anxiety and depression. First, we will provide a brief background of PDE4, and the rationale for its extensive study in cognition. Second, we will explore fundamental differences in individual PDE4 subtypes, and then begin to address differences between pathological and non-pathological aging. Alterations of cAMP/PDE4 signaling that occur within normal vs. pathological aging, and the potential for PDE4 modulation to combat these alterations within each context will be described. Finally, we will finish the chapter with obstacles that have hindered the field, and future studies and alternative viewpoints that need to be addressed. Overall, we hope this chapter will demonstrate the incredible complexity of PDE4 signaling in the brain, and will be useful in forming a strategy to develop future PDE4-mediated therapeutics for psychiatric illnesses.

The PDE4 cAMP-Specific Phosphodiesterases: Targets for Drugs with Antidepressant and Memory-Enhancing Action

The PDE4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases are essential regulators of cAMP abundance in the CNS through their ability to regulate PKA activity, the phosphorylation of CREB, and other important elements of signal transduction. In pre-clinical models and in early-stage clinical trials, PDE4 inhibitors have been shown to have antidepressant and memory-enhancing activity. However, the development of clinically-useful PDE4 inhibitors for CNS disorders has been limited by variable efficacy and significant side effects. Recent structural studies have greatly enhanced our understanding of the molecular configuration of PDE4 enzymes, especially the "long" PDE4 isoforms that are abundant in the CNS. The new structural data provide a rationale for the development of a new generation of PDE4 inhibitors that specifically act on long PDE4 isoforms. These next generation PDE4 inhibitors may also be capable of targeting the interactions of select long forms with their "partner" proteins, such as RACK1, β-arrestin, and DISC1. They would therefore have the ability to affect cAMP levels in specific cellular compartments and target localized cellular functions, such as synaptic plasticity. These new agents might also be able to target PDE4 populations in select regions of the CNS that are implicated in learning and memory, affect, and cognition. Potential therapeutic uses of these agents could include affective disorders, memory enhancement, and neurogenesis.

Increase of Intracellular Cyclic AMP by PDE4 Inhibitors Affects HepG2 Cell Cycle Progression and Survival

Type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE4) are major members of a superfamily of enzymes (PDE) involved in modulation of intracellular signaling mediated by cAMP. Broadly expressed in most human tissues and present in large amounts in the liver, PDEs have in the last decade been key therapeutic targets for several inflammatory diseases. Recently, a significant body of work has underscored their involvement in different kinds of cancer, but with no attention paid to liver cancer. The present study investigated the effects of two PDE4 inhibitors, rolipram and DC-TA-46, on the growth of human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Treatment with these inhibitors caused a marked increase of intracellular cAMP level and a dose- and time-dependent effect on cell growth. The concentrations of inhibitors that halved cell proliferation to about 50% were used for cell cycle experiments. Rolipram (10 μM) and DC-TA-46 (0.5 μM) produced a decrease of cyclin expression, in particular of cyclin A, as well as an increase in p21, p27 and p53, as evaluated by Western blot analysis. Changes in the intracellular localization of cyclin D1 were also observed after treatments. In addition, both inhibitors caused apoptosis, as demonstrated by an Annexin-V cytofluorimetric assay and analysis of caspase-3/7 activity. Results demonstrated that treatment with PDE4 inhibitors affected HepG2 cell cycle and survival, suggesting that they might be useful as potential adjuvant, chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents in hepatocellular carcinoma. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1401-1411, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

cAMP-specific PDE4 phosphodiesterases and AIP in the pathogenesis of pituitary tumors

PDE4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases regulate cAMP abundance in cells and therefore regulate numerous processes, including cell growth and differentiation. The rat PDE4A5 isoform (human homolog PDE4A4) interacts with the AIP protein (also called XAP2 or ARA-9). Germline mutations in AIP occur in approximately 20% of patients with Familial Isolated Pituitary Adenoma (FIPA) and 20% of childhood-onset simplex somatotroph adenomas. We therefore examined the protein expression of PDE4A4 and the closely related isoform PDE4A8 in normal human pituitary tissue and in pituitary adenomas. PDE4A4 had low expression in normal pituitary but was significantly overexpressed in somatotroph, lactotroph, corticotroph and clinically nonfunctioning gonadotroph adenomas (P<0.0001 for all subtypes). Likewise, PDE4A8 was expressed in normal pituitary and was also significantly overexpressed in the adenoma subtypes (P<0.0001 for all). Among the different adenoma subtypes, corticotroph and lactotroph adenomas were the highest and lowest expressed for PDE4A4, respectively, whereas the opposite was observed for PDE4A8. Naturally occurring oncogenic variants in AIP were shown by a two-hybrid assay to disrupt the ability of AIP to interact with PDE4A5. A reverse two-hybrid screen identified numerous additional variants in the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) region of AIP that also disrupted its ability to interact with PDE4A5. The expression of PDE4A4 and PDE4A8 in normal pituitary, their increased expression in adenomatous pituitary cells where AIP is meant to participate, and the disruption of the PDE4A4-AIP interaction by AIP mutants may play a role in pituitary tumorigenesis.

mAKAP-a master scaffold for cardiac remodeling

Cardiac remodeling is regulated by an extensive intracellular signal transduction network. Each of the many signaling pathways in this network contributes uniquely to the control of cellular adaptation. In the last few years, it has become apparent that multimolecular signaling complexes or "signalosomes" are important for fidelity in intracellular signaling and for mediating crosstalk between the different signaling pathways. These complexes integrate upstream signals and control downstream effectors. In the cardiac myocyte, the protein mAKAPβ serves as a scaffold for a large signalosome that is responsive to cAMP, calcium, hypoxia, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. The main function of mAKAPβ signalosomes is to modulate stress-related gene expression regulated by the transcription factors NFATc, MEF2, and HIF-1α and type II histone deacetylases that control pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor torbafylline (HWA 448) attenuates burn-induced rat skeletal muscle proteolysis through the PDE4/cAMP/EPAC/PI3K/Akt pathway

Treatment of rats after burn-injury with the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, torbafylline (also known as HWA 448) significantly reversed changes in rat skeletal muscle proteolysis, PDE4 activity, cAMP concentrations and mRNA expression of TNFα, IL-6, ubiquitin and E3 ligases. Torbafylline also attenuated muscle proteolysis during in vitro incubation, and this effect was blocked by the inhibitor Rp-cAMPS. Moreover, torbafylline significantly increased phospho-Akt levels, and normalized downregulated phospho-FOXO1 and phospho-4E-BP1 in muscle of burn rats. Similarly, torbafylline also normalized phosphorylation levels of Akt and its downstream elements in TNFα+IFNγ treated C2C12 myotubes. Torbafylline enhanced protein levels of exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) both in skeletal muscle of burn rats and in TNFα+IFNγ treated C2C12 myotubes. Pretreatment with a specific antagonist of PI3K or Epac significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of torbafylline on TNFα+IFNγ-induced MAFbx mRNA expression and protein breakdown in C2C12 myotubes. Torbafylline inhibits burn-induced muscle proteolysis by activating multiple pathways through PDE4/cAMP/Epac/PI3K/Akt.

PDE4 as a target for cognition enhancement

INTRODUCTION

The second messengers cAMP and cGMP mediate fundamental aspects of brain function relevant to memory, learning, and cognitive functions. Consequently, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), the enzymes that inactivate the cyclic nucleotides, are promising targets for the development of cognition-enhancing drugs.

AREAS COVERED

PDE4 is the largest of the 11 mammalian PDE families. This review covers the properties and functions of the PDE4 family, highlighting procognitive and memory-enhancing effects associated with their inactivation.

EXPERT OPINION

PAN-selective PDE4 inhibitors exert a number of memory- and cognition-enhancing effects and have neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties in preclinical models. The major hurdle for their clinical application is to target inhibitors to specific PDE4 isoforms relevant to particular cognitive disorders to realize the therapeutic potential while avoiding side effects, in particular emesis and nausea. The PDE4 family comprises four genes, PDE4A-D, each expressed as multiple variants. Progress to date stems from characterization of rodent models with selective ablation of individual PDE4 subtypes, revealing that individual subtypes exert unique and non-redundant functions in the brain. Thus, targeting specific PDE4 subtypes, as well as splicing variants or conformational states, represents a promising strategy to separate the therapeutic benefits from the side effects of PAN-PDE4 inhibitors.

β-Adrenergic receptor stimulation increases surface NKCC2 expression in rat thick ascending limbs in a process inhibited by phosphodiesterase 4

The thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (THAL) reabsorbs ∼30% of the filtered NaCl in a process mediated by the apical Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC2. Stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors in the THAL enhances NaCl reabsorption and increases intracellular cAMP. We found that intracellular cAMP stimulates NKCC2 trafficking to the apical membrane via protein kinase A (PKA). Several cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases (PDE) have been identified in rat THALs, and PDE4 decreases cAMP generated by β-adrenergic stimulation in other cells. However, it is not known whether β-adrenergic receptors activation stimulates NKCC2 trafficking. Thus we hypothesized that β-adrenergic receptor stimulation enhances THAL apical membrane NKCC2 expression via the PKA pathway and PDE4 blunts this effect. THAL suspensions were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats, and surface NKCC2 expression was measured by surface biotinylation and Western blot. Incubation of THALs with the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol at 0.5 and 1.0 μM increased surface NKCC2 by 17 ± 1 and 29 ± 5% respectively (P < 0.05). Preventing cAMP degradation with 3-isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX; a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor) enhanced isoproterenol-stimulated surface NKCC2 expression to 51 ± 7% (P < 0.05 vs. isoproterenol). The β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol or the PKA inhibitor H-89 completely blocked isoproterenol + IBMX-induced increase on surface NKCC2, while propranolol or H-89 alone had no effect. Selective inhibition of PDE4 with rolipram (20 μM) potentiated the effect of isoproterenol on surface NKCC2 and increased cAMP levels. We concluded that β-adrenergic receptor stimulation enhances surface NKCC2 expression in the THALs via PKA and PDE4 blunts this effect.

AIP and its interacting partners

Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein gene (AIP) predispose to young-onset pituitary tumours, most often to GH- or prolactin-secreting adenomas, and most of these patients belong to familial isolated pituitary adenoma families. The molecular pathway initiated by the loss-of-function AIP mutations leading to pituitary tumour formation is unknown. AIP, a co-chaperone of heat-shock protein 90 and various nuclear receptors, belongs to the family of tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-containing proteins. It has three antiparallel α-helix motifs (TPR domains) that mediate the interaction of AIP with most of its partners. In this review, we summarise the known interactions of AIP described so far. The identification of AIP partners and the understanding of how AIP interacts with these proteins might help to explain the specific phenotype of the families with heterozygous AIP mutations, to gain deeper insight into the pathological process of pituitary tumour formation and to identify novel drug targets.

Phosphodiesterases link the aryl hydrocarbon receptor complex to cyclic nucleotide signaling

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a major transcription factor regulated by different mechanisms. The classical view of AHR activation by xenobiotics needs to be amended by recent findings on the regulation of AHR by endogenous ligands and by crosstalk with other signaling pathways. In the cytosol the AHR recruits a large number of binding partners, including HSP90, p23, XAP2 and the ubiquitin ligases cullin 4B and CHIP. Furthermore, XAP2 binds the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases PDE2A and PDE4A5. PDE2A inhibits nuclear translocation of AHR suggesting an important regulatory role of cyclic nucleotides in AHR trafficking. Signaling involving cAMP is organized in subcellular compartments and a distinct cAMP compartment might be required for proper AHR mobility and function. We conclude that the AHR complex integrates ligand binding and cyclic nucleotide signaling to generate an adequate transcriptional response.

In cardiac myocytes, cAMP elevation triggers the down-regulation of transcripts and promoter activity for cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase-4A10 (PDE4A10)

Transcripts for the PDE4A10 cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase isoform are present in a wide variety of rat tissues including the heart. Sequence comparisons between the putative human and mouse promoters revealed a number of conserved regions including both an Sp1 and a CREB-binding site. The putative mouse PDE4A10 promoter was amplified from genomic DNA and sub-cloned into a luciferase reporter vector for investigation of activity in neonatal cardiac myocytes. Transfection with this construct identified a high level of luciferase expression in neonatal cardiac myocytes. Surprisingly, this activity was down-regulated by elevation of intracellular cAMP through a process involving PKA, but not EPAC, signalling. Such inhibition of the rodent PDE4A10 promoter activity in response to elevated cAMP levels is in contrast to the PDE4 promoters so far described. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the Sp1 binding site at promoter position -348 to -336 is responsible for the basal constitutive expression of murine PDE4A10. The conserved CREB-binding motif at position -370 to -363 also contributes to basal promoter activity but does not in itself confer cAMP inhibition upon the PDE4A10 promoter. EMSA analysis confirmed the authenticity of CREB and Sp1 binding sites. The transcriptional start site was identified to be an adenine residue at position -55 in the mouse PDE4A10 promoter. We present evidence that this novel down-regulation of PDE4A10 is mediated by the transcription factor ICER in a PKA dependent manner. The pool of cAMP in cardiac myocytes that down-regulates PDE4A10 is regulated by beta-adrenoceptor coupled adenylyl cyclase activity and via hydrolysis determined predominantly by the action of PDE4 (cAMP phosphodiesterase-4) and not PDE3 (cAMP phosphodiesterase-3). We suggest that increased cAMP may remodel cAMP-mediated signalling events by not only increasing the expression of specific PDE4 cAMP phosphodiesterases but also by down-regulating specific isoforms, such as is shown here for PDE4A10 in cardiac myocytes.