SERINE PROTEASES AND THEIR SERPIN INHIBITORS IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Our article documents recent studies in the proteolytic processing of the Alzheimer's beta-amyloid protein precursor (beta-APP), as well as the role of thrombin and its potent inhibitor, protease nexin I in Alz heimer's disease (AD). Since synapse loss correlates best with cogniti ve decline in AD, we also present in detail, our model of synapse form ation and elimination, reviewing recent findings related to the subjec t as well as our own original data. Recent exciting findings concernin g the involvement of thrombin-like activity in synapse elimination, wh ich we feel to be important in neural plasticity are also discussed.