CTSE and Alzheimer disease: In the present exploratory study, we found lower levels of four catalytic-type proteases in patients with moderate/severe AD: (1) Zinc-binding proteases MMP8, ADAM8, ADAM9, and Neprilysin/CD10, (2) calcium dependent serine-endoprotease Protein convertase 9 (PCSK9), (3) serine-binding protease uPA/Urokinase, and (4) aspartyl-binding protease Cathepsin E; suggesting that these proteases might play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.