Expression of phoshodiesterase 4B cAMP-specific gene in subjects with cryptorchidism and Down’s syndrome

Cryptorchidism represents a risk factor forinfertility and germ cell testicular neoplasia.An increased rate of cryptorchidismhas been reported in subjects with Down’ssyndrome. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases(PDEs) are important messengersthat regulate and mediate a numberof cellular responses to extracellular signals,such as neurotransmitters and hormones.PDE4B, cAMP-specific (PDE4B)gene which maps to chromosome 1p31.3appears to be involved in schizophrenia,chronic psychiatric illness, learning, memory,and mood disturbances. Expression ofPDE4 enzymes have been studied in testesof cryptorchid rats. Expression of PDE4Bprotein examination showedmarked degenerativechanges in the epithelial lining ofthe seminiferous tubules. These findings ledus to evaluate PDE4 mRNA expression inleukocytes of peripheral blood of five menwith DS and cryptorchidism and eleven subjectswith DS without cryptorchidism comparedwith healthy men (controls) by quantitativeReal Time PCR (qRT-PCR). Thisstudy showed that the PDE4B gene wasdownexpressed in men with DS and cryptorchidismcompared to normal controlsand DS without cryptorchidism. A lower expressionof the PDE4B gene may be involvedin the neurological abnormalities insubjects with Down’s syndrome. Moreover,PDE4B gene may be involved in the testicularabnormalities of men with DS andcryptorchidism. J. Clin. Lab. Anal.C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.