The activity, expression and function of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4) were investigated in the HMG human gingiva-derived malignant melanoma cell line. A specific PDE4 inhibitor, rolipram, inhibited PDE activity in homogenates of HMG cells, and PDE4B and 4D mRNAs were detected by RT-PCR in RNA from HMG cells. Two specific PDE4 inhibitors, rolipram and Ro-20-1724, and an adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, increased intracellular cAMP in HMG cells. Cell growth induced by rolipram, Ro-20-1724, and forskolin was inhibited by the H-89 protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. However, in contrast to effects of H-89, two other PKA inhibitors, KT5720 and PKI, did not inhibit rolipram-induced cell growth. A cAMP analogue that selectively activates Epac, 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP, also promoted the growth of HMG cells. These findings suggested that PDE4, PDE4B and/or 4D regulate cell growth through cAMP targets in the HMG malignant melanoma cell line. There have been no previous studies of positive regulation of cell growth by PDE4 inhibition, suggesting that it may be possible to target PDE4 in therapy for human malignant melanoma.

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