Melatonin reduces interleukin secretion in amyloid-β stressed mouse brain slices

Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with many features of the immune system. For example, cytokines such as IL-6, synthesized by microglia and astrocytes, are associated with senile plaques. To further study the role of cytokines in early stage AD neurodegeneration, an organotypic mouse brain slice culture system with microglia and astrocytes was developed. Amyloid-β(Aβ1–40) induced the secretion of both IL-1β and IL-6. Melatonin, an antioxidant and pineal hormone, reduced interleukin secretion in a concentration dependent manner. We also observed that melatonin, alone, had no effect on IL-1β secretion but at a concentration of 500 μM induced the secretion of IL-6. This organotypic slice system can be used to study the early role of immune system molecules on neurodegeneration.