In this review, we discuss the rationale of PDE4 inhibitors for different CNS diseases, including memory impairments, striatal disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS), and acquired brain injury (ABI).
Current phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors exert beneficial effects in central nervous system diseases via anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, but many of them are plagued by side effects like nausea and emesis.
Dysfunctions in the cAMP pathway have major implications in various diseases like CNS disorders, inflammation and cardiac syndromes and, hence, the modulation of cAMP signalling through appropriate intervention of AC/PDE4 activities has emerged as a promising new drug discovery strategy of current interest.