Psoralens increase the concentration of cyclic AMP in human cells in vitro

8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP) were assessed for their effects on cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in normal human fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and mononuclear leukocytes in vitro. In the absence of ultraviolet A radiation, 8-MOP and TMP caused an increase in the concentration of cAMP, but not cyclic GMP, in all of these cells. The effect was seen within 1 min and was sustained over control levels for at least 6 h. At 15 min, the highest dose of 8-MOP or TMP increased the cAMP concentration of fibroblasts by 52% and 69%, respectively. In mononuclear leukocytes, 8-MOP led to a 142% increase in cAMP after 20 min. Several analogs of 8-MOP and TMP had no effect on the cyclic nucleotide system of the cells. The pattern of the time-dependent increase in cAMP indicated that the effect was probably due to an inhibition of phosphodiesterase, rather than an activation of adenylyl cyclase. These results demonstrate that clinically effective psoralens, in the absence of UV radiation, can alter the cAMP concentration of human fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and mononuclear leukocytes in vitro.