The proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1 (IL-1) is elevated in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that beta-amyloid (A beta) 1-42, fibrillar A beta 1-40 and A beta 25-35 induce the release of IL-1 beta from activated THP-1 cells, a human monocyte cell line. A beta also is chemotactic for primary rodent microglia and peritoneal macrophages. We hypothesize that A beta is a chemokine and induces these responses by interaction with chemotactic receptors. If this is true, then these A beta-induced responses should be calcium-dependent and require activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins. To test this hypothesis, THP-1 cells were grown in culture with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and incubated with A beta 1-42 (5 muM) in the presence and absence of a calcium chelator, an inhibitor of intracellular calcium mobilization, a calcium channel blocker, or pertussis toxin, a bacterial endotoxin which uncouples G proteins from receptors by catalyzing the ADP ribosylation of cysteine near the carboxy-terminus of the alpha subunit. The media was collected and IL-1 beta present in the media was measured using an ELISA. Treatment of LPS-activated THP-1 cells with A beta 1-42 significantly elevated IL-1 beta released into the media as previously shown. Addition or ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminothyl ether) N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) (0.5 mM), a calcium chelator, to the media blocked A beta-induced IL-1 beta release, but had no effect on LPS-activated THP-1 cell release of IL-1 beta. The presence of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethyl amino)-octyl ester (TMB-8), an inhibitor of intracellular calcium mobilization, as well as nickel chloride, a non-specific calcium channel blocker, in the media also inhibited A beta-induced IL-1 release from LPS-activated THP-1 cells. IL- 1 beta release from activated THP-1 monocytes incubated with TMB-8 and nickel chloride without A beta remained at baseline values. Pretreatment of THP-1 monocytes with pertussis toxin for 4 h, followed by LPS activation and incubation with A beta, antagonized the release of IL-1 beta from these cells, but did not alter IL-1 beta release from activated THP-1 monocytes. These data suggest that A beta-induced IL-1 beta release from these cells is calcium-dependent and requires the activation of specific G-proteins. These findings are consistent with known second messengers that are activated following stimulation of chemotactic receptors.