 The present study has identified a protein called Lepokalintyprostaglandin D2 synthase, LPGDS, as being responsible for the fourfold increase in apoptotic rates seen in pig kidney cells exposed to Alzheimer's disease, AD, plasma. This protein was also found to be the main cause of cell death in these cells, as it can be blocked by the COX-2 inhibitor NS398 or an antibody against LPGDS. Furthermore, the protein was shown to be taken up into nerve cells through a receptor-mediated process, which suggests that it may contribute to the progression of AD. This article was authored by John K. Misaka, Bali Sodam, Thomas Palaya, and others.