Pde5a Deficiency Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity via Adipose cAMP-PKA Activation Enhancing Fat Browning

ABSTRACT Cyclic nucleotides are critical regulators of adaptive thermogenesis and adipogenesis, with their intracellular levels finely tuned by phosphodiesterases. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5A) modulates cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels in adipocytes. While PDE5A inhibition has shown promise in patients with diabetes, its role in metabolism remains unclear. Using Pde5a knockout mouse models, we demonstrated that mice lacking Pde5a exhibit enhanced browning of white adipose tissue and reduced hepatic fat content. Following high-fat diet, Pde5a−/− mice are resistant to obesity, displaying improved glucose metabolism and enhanced thermogenesis. These protective effects stem from an early developmental knockdown of Pde5a, leading to a metabolic reprogramming driven by cAMP-PKA pathway activation. The convergence of cGMP and cAMP signaling orchestrates thermogenic and systemic metabolic adaptations. Our findings establish PDE5A as a novel regulator of energy homeostasis, suggesting its inhibition as a valuable adjuvant therapy for metabolic disorders. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.