Phosphodiesterase 4B: Master Regulator of Brain Signaling

• Main Authors: Amy J. Tibbo, George S. Baillie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
• Series: Cells
• Subjects: phosphodiesterase; cyclic-AMP; rolipram; PDE4B; neuroinflammation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/5/1254

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are the only superfamily of enzymes that have the ability to break down cyclic nucleotides and, as such, they have a pivotal role in neurological disease and brain development. PDEs have a modular structure that allows targeting of individual isoforms to discrete brain locations and it is often the location of a PDE that shapes its cellular function. Many of the eleven different families of PDEs have been associated with specific diseases. However, we evaluate the evidence, which suggests the activity from a sub-family of the PDE4 family, namely PDE4B, underpins a range of important functions in the brain that positions the PDE4B enzymes as a therapeutic target for a diverse collection of indications, such as, schizophrenia, neuroinflammation, and cognitive function.