ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family members, characterized by a metalloprotease and a disintegrin domain, are membrane-anchored glycoproteins involved in proteolysis and cell adhesion. ADAM8 might have an important role in allergic inflammation. It can cleave a variety of substrates and is a sheddase for VCAM-1 and CD23, the low-affinity IgE receptors.
Division of Respiratory Disease, Department of Brain and Nerve Science, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu City, Oita, Japan. matsuno@med.oita-u.ac.jp