We studied the effect of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta
(IL-1) and several anti-inflammatory drugs on amyloid beta-peptide (A
beta) cytotoxicity. Incubation of PC12 cells with 10(-6) M A beta(1-42
) for 24 h reduced viabilty to 36%; coincubation with 10(-7) M IL-1 fu
rther reduced viability to 13% of baseline. With preincubation of PC12
cells with the drugs indomethacin, dexamethasone and chloroquine, red
uction in viabilty was limited to 51%, 48% and 44%, respectively, comp
ared to 32% with A beta alone. These experiments support further study
of anti-inflammatory therapy in Alzheimer's disease.