Journal of Neuroinflammation BioMed Central Research Open Access Induction of serine racemase expression and D-serine release from microglia by amyloid β-peptide Sheng-Zhou Wu1, Angela M Bodles2, Mandy M Porter2, W Sue T Griffin1,2,4, Anthony S Basile3 and Steven W Barger*1,2,4 Address: 1Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, 2Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, 3DOV Pharmaceutical Inc., Hackensack, New Jersey, USA and 4Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock Arkansas, USA Email: Sheng-Zhou Wu -
[email protected]; Angela M Bodles -
[email protected]; Mandy M Porter -
[email protected]; W Sue T Griffin -
[email protected]; Anthony S Basile -
[email protected]; Steven W Barger* -
[email protected] * Corresponding author Published: 20 April 2004 Received: 22 March 2004 Accepted: 20 April 2004 Journal of Neuroinflammation 2004, 1:2 This article is available from: http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/1/1/2 © 2004 Wu et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL. Abstract Background: Roles for excitotoxicity and inflammation in Alzheimer's disease have been hypothesized. Proinflammatory stimuli, including amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), elicit a release of glutamate from microglia. We tested the possibility that a coagonist at the NMDA class of glutamate receptors, D-serine, could respond similarly. Methods: Cultured microglial cells were exposed to Aβ.