PDE4 inhibitors and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Inhibitors of the 3‘, 5‘ cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase Type IV (PDE4) are able to modulate a variety of inflammatory responses in both cell and animal based models. These results suggest that PDE4 inhibitors may provide a novel approach for treating chronic inflammatory diseases. A number of pharmaceutical companies are developing PDE4 inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory diseases including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. Recent clinical evidence suggests that PDE4 inhibitors may also be efficacious in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review will summarise current treatments for COPD, the scientific rationale for using PDE4 inhibitors to treat this disease and the current status of known PDE4 inhibitors.

• COPD
• inflammatory diseases
• PDE4 inhibitors