Evidence for glial-mediated inflammation in aged APP(SW) transgenic mice

Chronic expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-6, by glia may underlie the neurodegenerative events that occur within the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study determined whether these markers of inflammation could be observed within the brains of Tg(HuAPP695.K670N/M671L)2576 transgenic mice (Tg2576) that have recently been shown to mimic many features of AD. Interleukin-1beta- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-immunopositive microglia were localized with thioflavine-positive (fibrillar) Abeta deposits. Moreover, interleukin-6 immunoreactive astrocytes surrounded fibrillar Abeta deposits. These findings provide evidence that Tg2576 mice exhibit features of the inflammatory pathology seen in AD and suggest that these mice are a useful animal model for studying the role inflammation may play in this disease.