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Effects of Selective Phosphodiesterases-4 Inhibitors on Learning and Memory: A Review of Recent Research

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Abstract

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) regulates the intracellular level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Recent studies demonstrated that PDE-4 inhibitors can counteract deficits in long-term memory caused by aging or increased expression of mutant forms of human amyloid precursor proteins, and can influence the process of memory function and cognitive enhancement. Therapeutics, such as ketamine, a drug used in clinical anesthesia, can also cause memory deficits as adverse effects. Targeting PDE-4 with selective inhibitors may offer a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent, slow the progress, and, eventually, treat memory deficits.

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Abbreviations

PDE-4:

Phosphodiesterase-4

cAMP:

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

UCR:

Upstream conserved regions

LTP:

Long-term potentiation

PKA:

Protein kinase A

CREB:

cAMP response element binding protein

CBP:

CREB-binding protein

ERK:

Extracellular regulated protein

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81000469) and the Scientific Foundation from Health Office of Jiangsu province (Grant No. H201070).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, China

    Sheng Peng & Xiaoqing Zhang

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Zhangjiagang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, China

    Haiyan Sun

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, No. 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou, 221002, China

    Gongjian Liu & Guanglei Wang

Authors
  1. Sheng Peng
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  2. Haiyan Sun
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  3. Xiaoqing Zhang
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  4. Gongjian Liu
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  5. Guanglei Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guanglei Wang.

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Peng, S., Sun, H., Zhang, X. et al. Effects of Selective Phosphodiesterases-4 Inhibitors on Learning and Memory: A Review of Recent Research. Cell Biochem Biophys 70, 83–85 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-014-9930-7

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