Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are a family of related phosphohydrolyases that selectively catalyze the hydrolysis of 3' cyclic phosphate bonds in adenosine and/or guanine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (cAMP and/or cGMP). They regulate the cellular levels, localization and duration of action of these second messengers by controlling the rate of their degradation.

There are 11 subtypes of PDEs, named PDE1-11; PDE4, 7 and 8 selectively degrade cAMP, PDE5, 6 and 9 selectively degrade cGMP and PDE1, ...