Resveratrol's metabolic effects include inhibition of PDE 4 and activation of sirtuin 1

Resveratrol is a natural product found in various fruits and in red wine. Dr. Sung-Jun Park, from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, and colleagues have demonstrated that by inhibiting phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 in mouse skeletal muscle, resveratrol initiates a series of intracellular processes leading to the indirect activation of sirtuin 1 (Sirt1). (Park et al, (2012) Cell 148(3):421-33). Resveratrol administration results in increased cAMP levels, due to competitive inhibition of cAMP-degrading PDEs. Furthermore, the metabolic benefits of resveratrol treatment can be duplicated by selectively inhibiting PDE4 using rolipram, a selective cell-permeable PDE4 inhibitor. Benefits include prevention of diet-induced obesity, increased mitochondrial function, enhanced physical endurance, and glucose tolerance. The new research suggests that PDE4 inhibitors may be useful for treating metabolic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, inflammation and cancer, as well as aging-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Enzo Life Sciences offers a comprehensive portfolio of inhibitors, recombinant proteins and assay kits relevant to elucidating the roles of PDE4 and Sirt1 in metabolism and disease.

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