IL-6 release by LPS-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a potential biomarker in Alzheimer's disease.

Background:: In Alzheimer's disease (AD), microglia are activated by amyloid-beta (Aβ) to release IL6 among other cytokines, which in turn may be neurotoxic. Prior studies suggest that the brain inflammatory response to various antigens can be modeled by measuring the release of IL6 from blood mononuclear cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We sought to replicate these results and extend to an AD-specific stimulus (Aβ).