title: Minocycline does not affect amyloid beta phagocytosis by human microglial cells.
abstract: Activated microglia accumulate in amyloid beta (Abeta) plaques containing amyloid associated factors SAP and C1q in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Microglia are involved in AD pathogenesis by promoting Abeta plaque formation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. On the other hand, phagocytosis of Abeta by activated microglia may prevent Abeta-mediated neurotoxicity and Abeta plaque formation. Minocycline, a tetracycline derivative, is neuroprotective in various neurodegenerative models as well as human chronic neurological disorders. Minocycline attenuates the release of TNF-alpha by human microglia upon exposure to a mixture of Abeta, SAP and C1q. Here, we demonstrate that minocycline down-regulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by human microglia without affecting their beneficial activity, phagocytosis of amyloid beta fibrils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.familian@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Atoosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Familian
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eikelenboom
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Veerhuis
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008911:Minocycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D015922:Complement C1q; D008911:Minocycline