The emerging role of cystatins in Alzheimer's disease.

Recently opposing effects of cysteine protease inhibitors, the human cystatins, on neurodegeneration have been reported. Human cystatin C is a risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), whereas human stefin B (cystatin B) has no direct involvement in AD. Conflicting data show that their target protease, cathepsin B, might be anti-amyloidogenic, helping in amyloid-beta (Abeta) clearance or, instead, might be involved in Abeta production. Some reports claim that cystatin C binds soluble Abeta, making transgenic animals healthier, others, in contrast, that deleting cystatins genes may contribute to amyloid pathology in animal models of AD.