Phosphodiesterase II, the cGMP-activatable cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, regulates cyclic AMP metabolism in PC12 cells

Analysis of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in cellular fractions from cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells has shown that the predominant hydrolytic activity in both cytosolic and particulate compartments is characteristic of a PDE II, the cGMP-activatable family of PDE isozymes. Cytosolic PDE activity was purified to a high degree utilizing DE-52 anion exchange and cGMP-Sepharose affinity chromatographies. The physicochemical properties of PC12 PDE II were similar to those of PDE II isolated from particulate or soluble fractions of other tissues, including subunit molecular weight of approximately 102,000, activation of cAMP hydrolysis by cGMP, and positive cooperative kinetic behavior for cAMP and cGMP hydrolysis. The potential role of PDE II in regulating cAMP metabolism in intact PC12 cells was studied using an [3H]adenine prelabeling technique. Stimulation of PC12 cell adenosine receptors resulted in a 5-8-fold increase in cAMP accumulation. Removal of the adenosine stimulus by the addition of exogenous adenosine deaminase resulted in a rapid decay of cAMP to prestimulated basal levels within 2 min. Treatment of PC12 cells with atrial natriuretic factor or sodium nitroprusside caused 1) increased intracellular cGMP levels, 2) attenuation of adenosine-stimulated cAMP accumulation, and 3) increased rates of cAMP decay after removal of the adenosine stimulus. Treatment of PC12 cells with HL-725 (a potent inhibitor of isolated PDE II activity in vitro) caused 1) increased basal cAMP accumulation, 2) potentiation of adenosine-stimulated cAMP accumulation, and 3) retardation of the rate of cAMP decay after removal of the adenosine stimulus. HL-725 blocked both the attenuation of cAMP accumulation and the accelerated rate of cAMP decay observed with the cGMP-elevating agents. These results suggest that, in PC12 cells, drugs or hormones that inhibit PDE II or increase intracellular cGMP levels to activate PDE II can modulate cAMP metabolism by altering the catalytic status of the enzyme.