Modulation of rat thymocyte proliferative response through the inhibition of different cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isoforms by means of selective inhibitors and cGMP-elevating agents.

We have investigated the role played by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (EC 3.1.4.17) in the control of T-lymphocyte response to mitogenic agents by their ability to influence the cellular level of cAMP. The importance of this messenger as a negative regulator in this cell type is well established. Multiple isoenzymes of phosphodiesterase were fractionated from the cytosol of rat thymic lymphocytes by high performance liquid chromatography on an anion exchange column. In addition to the type II, III, IV isoforms that we have already described [Valette et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 169:864-872 (1990)], a phosphodiesterase fraction sharing several of the characteristics of type V, cGMP-binding phosphodiesterase, was detected. Non-isoform-selective inhibitors of phosphodiesterase such as dipyridamole, papaverine, and methyl-isobutylxanthine were able to totally prevent the proliferative response of thymocytes to stimulation by the mitogenic lectin concanavalin A. In contrast, the selective inhibitor of type IV phosphodiesterases rolipram induced a rather moderate inhibition of proliferation, not exceeding 60%; and the selective inhibitors of type III and type V phosphodiesterases, milrinone and M&B 22,948, respectively, displayed only marginal inhibitory effects. The association of the type III and IV phosphodiesterase inhibitors produced synergistic inhibition of proliferation, which could then be almost totally suppressed. These inhibitory effects on cell multiplication were reflected at the level of the cell cAMP content; only rolipram was able to induce a significant (approximately 50%) increase in cAMP, and this increase was potentiated by the presence of milrinone, reaching almost 100%. The type V phosphodiesterase selective inhibitor M&B 22,948 displayed similar properties to those of milrinone, which suggests that it indirectly inhibited the type III, cGMP-inhibitable isoenzyme, by inducing a cGMP rise. This hypothesis was supported by evidence of a significant raising effect of M&B 22,948 on cGMP level, and by the ability of a cGMP-elevating agent, sodium nitroprusside, to mimic the synergistic effects of milrinone associated with rolipram. Furthermore, 8-bromo-cGMP, a potent activator of cGMP-dependent protein kinase, which showed only weak inhibitory effects on thymic type III phosphodiesterase, failed to alter the effects of rolipram on the cell proliferation. These results allow us to delineate a role for types III, IV, and V phosphodiesterase in the control of cAMP level during the proliferative response of thymic lymphocytes. They also suggest that endogenously formed cGMP might participate in the regulation of cAMP level in the cells by means of the inhibition of the type III phosphodiesterase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)