Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 2003;108:239-244
doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000081166.87607.E2
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reffelmann, T.
Right arrow Articles by Kloner, R. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reffelmann, T.
Right arrow Articles by Kloner, R. A.
Related Collections
Right arrow Endothelium/vascular type/nitric oxide

(Circulation. 2003;108:239.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.


Review: Current Perspective

Therapeutic Potential of Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibition for Cardiovascular Disease

Thorsten Reffelmann, MD; Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD

From The Heart Institute, Good Samaritan Hospital, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Correspondence to Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD, The Heart Institute, Good Samaritan Hospital, University of Southern California, 1225 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017-2395. E-mail rkloner@goodsam.org


Key Words: cardiovascular diseases • vasospasm • pulmonary heart disease • inhibitors • nitric oxide


An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.
 

Several families of phosphodiesterases (PDE), the enzymes catalyzing hydrolysis of cyclic (c) nucleoside monophosphates, namely, 3'5'-cAMP (cAMP) and 3'5'-cGMP (cGMP), have been identified and characterized in recent years.1 Since selective pharmacological inhibitors of isoform 5 (a cGMP-specific PDE), such as sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil, have become available, the physiological function and interaction of different PDE isoforms,2 their tissue distribution,2 and the therapeutic potential of PDE 5 inhibition have attracted increasing interest.3

The discovery in 1989 of sildenafil, a highly selective inhibitor of PDE 5, was the result of extensive research on chemical agents targeting PDE 5 that might potentially be useful in the treatment of coronary heart disease. Initial clinical studies on sildenafil in the early 1990s were not promising with respect to its antianginal potential. However, a remarkable side effect was reported by a number of volunteers participating in these investigations; sildenafil seemed to enhance penile erections, which soon thereafter became the main focus of further studies.

PDE 5 is found in high concentration in smooth muscle cells of the corpora cavernosa.2 Relaxation of smooth muscle cells of penile arteries, arterioles, and sinusoids in response to sexual stimulation results in an increase in blood volume within the rigid tunica albuginea and compression of draining venules, and hence a penile erection. Relaxation of the arterial smooth muscles occurs after stimulation of the enzyme guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide released from nonadrenergic-noncholinergic nerves and endothelial cells, with subsequent formation of cGMP4 (Figure 1). cGMP activates a cGMP-dependent protein kinase, . . . [Full Text of this Article]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
T. Reffelmann and R. A. Kloner
Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors: are they cardioprotective?
Cardiovasc Res, July 15, 2009; 83(2): 204 - 212.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
S. Hsu, T. Nagayama, N. Koitabashi, M. Zhang, L. Zhou, D. Bedja, K. L. Gabrielson, J. D. Molkentin, D. A. Kass, and E. Takimoto
Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition blocks pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy independent of the calcineurin pathway
Cardiovasc Res, February 1, 2009; 81(2): 301 - 309.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Intensive Care MedHome page
J. E. Lee, S. C. Hillier, and C. A. Knoderer
Use of Sildenafil to Facilitate Weaning From Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Children With Pulmonary Hypertension Following Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease
J Intensive Care Med, September 1, 2008; 23(5): 329 - 334.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
M. Guazzi, M. Samaja, R. Arena, M. Vicenzi, and M. D. Guazzi
Long-Term Use of Sildenafil in the Therapeutic Management of Heart Failure
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 27, 2007; 50(22): 2136 - 2144.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
D. A. Kass, E. Takimoto, T. Nagayama, and H. C. Champion
Phosphodiesterase regulation of nitric oxide signaling
Cardiovasc Res, July 15, 2007; 75(2): 303 - 314.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
S. Nemoto, E. Umehara, T. Ikeda, T. Itonaga, and M. Komeda
Oral Sildenafil Ameliorates Impaired Pulmonary Circulation Early After Bidirectional Cavopulmonary Shunt
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2007; 83(5): e11 - e13.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
E. Takimoto, D. Belardi, C. G. Tocchetti, S. Vahebi, G. Cormaci, E. A. Ketner, A. L. Moens, H. C. Champion, and D. A. Kass
Compartmentalization of Cardiac {beta}-Adrenergic Inotropy Modulation by Phosphodiesterase Type 5
Circulation, April 24, 2007; 115(16): 2159 - 2167.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
S. Taddei and L. Ghiadoni
Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibition to Treat Essential Hypertension: Is This the Beginning of the Story?
Hypertension, October 1, 2006; 48(4): 546 - 548.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
B. A. Borlaug, V. Melenovsky, T. Marhin, P. Fitzgerald, and D. A. Kass
Sildenafil Inhibits {beta}-Adrenergic-Stimulated Cardiac Contractility in Humans
Circulation, October 25, 2005; 112(17): 2642 - 2649.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
E. Fung, R. R. Fiscus, A. P. C. Yim, G. D. Angelini, and A. A. Arifi
The Potential Use of Type-5 Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Chest, October 1, 2005; 128(4): 3065 - 3073.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. DiabetesHome page
T. K. Thethi, N. O. Asafu-Adjaye, and V. A. Fonseca
Erectile Dysfunction
Clin. Diabetes, July 1, 2005; 23(3): 105 - 113.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch DermatolHome page
A. Yung, N. Reay, and M. D. Goodfield
Improvement in Digital Flexibility and Dexterity Following Ingestion of Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) in Limited Systemic Sclerosis
Arch Dermatol, July 1, 2005; 141(7): 831 - 833.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EDUCATION AND PRACTICEHome page
K. Ford
Pulmonary artery hypertension: new drug treatment in children
Arch. Dis. Child. Ed. Pract., June 1, 2005; 90(1): ep15 - ep20.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
A. Das, L. Xi, and R. C. Kukreja
Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Sildenafil Preconditions Adult Cardiac Myocytes against Necrosis and Apoptosis: ESSENTIAL ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE SIGNALING
J. Biol. Chem., April 1, 2005; 280(13): 12944 - 12955.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
T. Gori, S. Sicuro, S. Dragoni, G. Donati, S. Forconi, and J. D. Parker
Sildenafil Prevents Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by Ischemia and Reperfusion via Opening of Adenosine Triphosphate-Sensitive Potassium Channels: A Human In Vivo Study
Circulation, February 15, 2005; 111(6): 742 - 746.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Circ. Res.Home page
E. Takimoto, H. C. Champion, D. Belardi, J. Moslehi, M. Mongillo, E. Mergia, D. C. Montrose, T. Isoda, K. Aufiero, M. Zaccolo, et al.
cGMP Catabolism by Phosphodiesterase 5A Regulates Cardiac Adrenergic Stimulation by NOS3-Dependent Mechanism
Circ. Res., January 7, 2005; 96(1): 100 - 109.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
S. G. Raja and S. H. Nayak
Sildenafil: Emerging Cardiovascular Indications
Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2004; 78(4): 1496 - 1506.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
T. M. Lincoln
Cyclic GMP and Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitor Therapies: What's on the Horizon?
Mol. Pharmacol., July 1, 2004; 66(1): 11 - 13.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
T. Reffelmann and R. A Kloner
Cardiovascular effects of sildenafil in experimental ischemia-reperfusion (reply to "Sildenafil-induced cardioprotection in rabbits, by Kukreja, R.C., Ockaili, R., Salloum, F., Xi, L.")
Cardiovasc Res, December 1, 2003; 60(3): 702 - 703.
[Full Text] [PDF]