Prostaglandins (PGs) and cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), have been implicated in the etiopathology of various inflammatory and degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and prion diseases. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), potent inhibitors of PG synthesis, appear to be beneficial in the treatment of AD. To assess whether PGs are able to induce IL-6 synthesis in cells of the CNS, IL-6 mRNA and protein syntheses were measured in a human astrocytoma cell line after stimulation with different PGs. PGE1 and PGE2, but not PGD2 and PGF2 alpha, led to a rapid and transient induction of IL-6 mRNA, followed by IL-6 protein synthesis. Furthermore, PGE2 potentiated IL-1 beta-induced IL-6 mRNA synthesis. These results are discussed with respect to the participation of PGs in neurodegenerative diseases (and its inhibition by NSAIDs) by affecting cytokine expression.