Chronic inflammation and astrocytosis are characteristic histopathological features of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Astrocytes are one of the predominant cell types in the brain. In AD they are activated and produce inflammatory components such as complement components, acute phase proteins, and cytokines. In this study we analyzed the effect of cytokines on the production of amyloid beta (Abeta) in the astrocytoma cell line U373 and in primary human astrocytes isolated postmortem from healthy aged persons as well as from patients with AD. Astrocytes did not produce Abeta in the absence of stimuli or following stimulation with IL-1beta, TNFalpha, IL-6, and TGF-beta1. Neither did combinations of TNFalpha and IL-1beta, IL-6 or TGF-beta1, or the coadministration of IFNgamma and IL-6 or TGF-beta1 induce Abeta production. In contrast, pronounced production of Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 was observed when primary astrocytes or astrocytoma cells were stimulated with combinations of IFNgamma and TNFalpha or IFNgamma and IL-1beta. Induction of Abeta production was accompanied by decreased glycosylation of APP as well as by increased secretion of APPsbeta. Our results suggest that astrocytes may be an important source of Abeta in the presence of certain combinations of inflammatory cytokines. IFNgamma in combination with TNFalpha or IL-1beta seems to trigger Abeta production by supporting beta-secretase cleavage of the immature APP molecule.