This study investigates the link between cAMP signaling and PTSD reexperiencing symptoms. Using mice and human transcriptome analysis, the researchers demonstrate that facilitated cAMP signaling enhances fear memory retrieval and maintenance. Reduced PDE4B mRNA expression, which degrades cAMP, was observed in PTSD patients with severe reexperiencing symptoms and in mouse hippocampi after fear memory retrieval. Correlation between more severe reexperiencing symptoms and lower PDE4B mRNA levels was linked to decreased PDE4B DNA methylation. These findings suggest that cAMP signaling, through PDE4B downregulation, plays a key role in PTSD reexperiencing.

Hiroaki Hori, Hotaka Fukushima, Taikai Nagayoshi, Rie Ishikawa, Min Zhuo, Fuyuko Yoshida, Hiroshi Kunugi, Kenichi Okamoto, Yoshiharu Kim, Satoshi Kida