Gangliosides inhibit the release of interleukin-1beta in amyloid beta-protein-treated human monocytic cells.

Amyloid-beta protein (A beta) is known to induce microglial activation with concomitant release of cytokines. Gangliosides have documented neuritogenic and neurotrophic properties. We determined the effects of A beta on the release of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) from the human monocytic cell line, THP-1 cells. A beta 1-42 significantly induced the release of IL-1beta from the cells. A beta 1-40, A beta 40-1, A beta 1-38, and A beta precursor protein (beta-APP) analogs also released a small amount of IL-1beta. A beta 1-42-activated cells demonstrated approx an 18-fold higher IL-1beta release than that for control cells or A beta 1-40 (soluble; S) treated cells. The release of IL-1beta from A beta 1-42-activated cells was significantly inhibited (33-48% of activated cells; p < 0.05 for the control value) by addition of gangliosides, suggesting that gangliosides inhibit the continuous cycle of the IL-1beta production in THP-1 cells.