[Role of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases type 3 and 4 in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling and arrhythmias]

Abstract

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) represent a superfamily of enzymes specialised in the degradation of cAMP and cGMP. In heart, PDE3 and PDE4 are the two major families involved in the regulation of cAMP levels and the control of inotropism. Both families are encoded by several genes, and the recent analysis of the cardiac phenotype of mice lacking these different genes provided new insights into the way they regulate excitation-contraction coupling (ECC). In particular, these studies emphasize the local character of ECC regulation by PDE, as well as the role of these PDE in maintaining calcium homeostasis and preventing cardiac arrhythmias.