title: Phosphodiesterases as therapeutic targets for Huntington's disease.
abstract: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and emotional and psychiatric disturbances. The genetic mutation is characterized by a CAG expansion, resulting in the formation of a mutant huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine repeat region. Mutated huntingtin has been shown to impair a number of physiological activities by interacting with several factors. In particular, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are severely affected by mutant huntingtin. In this view, drugs targeted at counteracting CREB loss of function and BDNF decrease have been considered as powerful tools to treat HD. Recently, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors have been used successfully to increase levels of CREB and BDNF in HD models. Indeed, PDE4, 5 or 10 inhibitors have been shown to afford neuroprotection and modulation of CREB and BDNF. In this review, we will summarize the data supporting the use of PDE inhibitors as the therapeutical approach to fight HD and we will discuss the possible mechanisms of action underlying these effects.
authors.forename: Francesca R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS at the European Center for Brain Research, via del Fosso Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome. f.fusco@hsantalucia.it.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giampà
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases