S100B secretion is stimulated by IL-1β in glial cultures and hippocampal slices of rats: Likely involvement of MAPK pathway

S100B is an astrocyte-derived cytokine implicated in the IL-1β-triggered cytokine cycle in Alzheimer's disease. However, the secretion of S100B following stimulation by IL-1β has not been directly demonstrated. We investigated S100B secretion in cortical primary astrocyte cultures, C6 glioma cells and acute hippocampal slices exposed to IL-1β. S100B secretion was induced by IL-1β in all preparations, involving MAPK pathway and, apparently, NF-кB signaling. Astrocytes and C6 cells exhibited different sensitivities to IL-1β. These results suggest that IL-1β-induced S100B secretion is a component of the neuroinflammatory response, which would support the involvement of S100B in the genesis of neurodegenerative diseases.