Stereospecificity of rolipram actions on eosinophil cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase

The stereospecificity of rolipram inhibition of particulate cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE IV) from guinea-pig eosinophils has been investigated. (-)-Rolipram (IC50 = 0.22 +/- 0.08 microM) was 2.5-fold more potent than (+)-rolipram (IC50 = 0.58 +/- 0.05 microM) in inhibiting membrane-bound PDE IV. Solubilization of PDE IV with deoxycholate (0.5%) and NaCl (100 mM) increased rolipram stereospecificity [IC50 (-)-rolipram = 0.020 +/- 0.002 microM; IC50 (+)-rolipram = 0.33 +/- 0.07 microM]. Partial purification of this solubilized PDE IV by DEAE-trisacryl anion-exchange chromatography reduced the enantiomeric potency difference compared with the pre-chromatographed activity, with (-)-rolipram (IC50 = 0.20 +/- 0.02 microM) being only 2.9-fold more potent than (+)-rolipram (IC50 = 0.57 +/- 0.14 microM). Vanadate-glutathione complex (V-GSH) stimulated membrane-bound PDE IV activity and increased the potency of (-)-rolipram (IC50 = 0.014 +/- 0.006 microM) but not (+)-rolipram (IC50 = 0.32 +/- 0.07 microM). In intact eosinophils, (-)-rolipram (EC50 = 0.19 +/- 0.02 microM) was 10-fold more potent than (+)-rolipram (EC50 = 1.87 +/- 0.09 microM) in enhancing isoprenaline (10 microM)-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Strong correlations were demonstrated for displacement of [3H]rolipram binding to brain membranes by several PDE inhibitors and their inhibition of solubilized PDE IV (r = 0.98, P < 0.001, n = 7) and stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in intact cells (r = 0.98, P < 0.001, n = 6). Rolipram was a relatively weak inhibitor of partially purified pig aortic PDE IV and only slight stereospecificity was exhibited [IC50 (-)-rolipram = 1.47 +/- 0.09 microM; IC50 (+)-rolipram = 2.73 +/- 0.38 microM]. The results indicate the presence of a partially concealed stereospecific site (Sr) on eosinophil PDE IV possibly similar to the high-affinity rolipram-binding site in brain through which rolipram can potently inhibit enzyme activity. This site, which apparently is not present on partially purified pig aortic PDE IV, is concealed in freshly prepared eosinophil membranes but is exposed by solubilization or V-GSH treatment and is important in regulating intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation in intact cells.