Recent research progress on phosphodiesterase inhibitors in lung edema, pulmonary hypertension and acute lung injury

Abstract

Background Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEIs) are kinds of drugs which can inhibit phosphodiesterases (PDEs),decrease hydrolysis of the intracellular second messengers including the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP),increase the concentrations of intracellular of cAMP and cGMP.Selective PDE 3,PDE 4 and PDE 5 inhibitors were initially applied in improving cardiovascular function and now the indications of the drugs were extend to other therapy areas.Objective To introduce the recent research progress of the applications of PDE 3,PDE 4 and PDE 5 inhibitors in the treatments of lung edema,pulmonary hypertension and acute lung injury.Content It is widely recognized that PDE 3,PDE 4 and PDE 5 existed in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells and pulmonary smooth muscle cells and they contributed to maintain the integrity of the vascular endothelium and modulate the relaxation and contraction of vascular smooth muscle.This review summarized the application and mechanism about PDEIs which could keep the pulmonary endothelium intact and regulate the vascular function via inhibiting PDEs.Trend To understand the pharmacology of PDEIs may leads to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for lung edema,pulmonary hypertension and acute lung injury. Key words: Phosphodiesterase inhibitors; Lung edema; Pulmonary hypertension; Acute lung injury