We analyzed neprilysin mRNA and protein levels in cerebral cortex from 10 cognitively normal elderly subjects with amyloid plaques (NA), 10 cases of AD, and 10 control cases free ofamyloid plaques.
Immunocytochemistry revealed few neprilysin-positive dystrophic neurites around beta-amyloid plaques and an upregulation of neprilysin in plaque-surrounding reactive astrocytes which may suggest a role of plaque-mediated astrogliosis in beta-amyloid degradation.