| abstract |
The present invention provides assays to identify compounds that affect microglial cell activation, and specifically assays to identify compounds that affect secretion of cytokines from these microglial cells by modulating PGE 2 -mediated activity. The assays of the invention include assays for testing microglial cell activation by contacting microglia with compounds that modulate β-amyloid PGE 2 -mediated activation, which can be identified by cellular activity such as secretion of cytokines, e.g., TNF-α and IL-1α. The effect of the candidate compound can be determined by comparing the effect with a control culture which is not contacted with the compound, or by comparing the effect with a standardized profile. |