Differences in the amyloid-β-induced inflammatory response in microglia from C57BL/6 and A/J strains of mice

The microglial inflammatory response to Aβ1–42 stimulation with or without IFN-γ priming was investigated in low and high responder strains of mice, A/J and C57BL/6, respectively. A/J microglia showed moderate morphological changes upon stimulation with IFN-γ alone or with Aβ1–42. Conversely, C57BL/6 microglia showed major changes in their cellular morphology, which were accompanied by a decrease in NO release and a marked increase in TNF-α production. These results indicate that the magnitude of the microglial inflammatory response to Aβ is strongly influenced by genetic factors. Individual differences in the regulation of the microglial response may be a key player in the rate of development of the neuropathology of AD.