CTSZ and Alzheimer disease: Furthermore, γ-enolase is upregulated in microglial cells surrounding Aβ plaques in Tg2576 transgenic mice overexpressing Aβ precursor protein (a model of AD) and plays a neuroprotective role in Aβ-related neurodegeneration that is regulated by cathepsin X. These findings suggest that γ-enolase participates in the regulation of neuronal survival and death in the context of AD [147].