Statins induce insulin-degrading enzyme secretion from astrocytes via an autophagy-based unconventional secretory pathway

Background Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) is a major protease of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ), a prominent toxic protein in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Previous studies suggested that statins promote IDE secretion; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown, as IDE has no signal sequence.