Transcriptional inhibition of the beta-amyloid precursor protein by interferon-gamma.

Attenuating beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) gene expression may have relevance in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, where beta-APP has been implicated in neuropathological processes. We report here on the transcriptional down-regulation of beta-APP by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in SKNMC human neuroblastoma cells. Treatment of the cells with IFN-gamma resulted in a 85% dose-dependent inhibition of beta-APP promoter activity after 24 h of exposure, with no changes observed at 5 h.