Disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs and ADAM-TSs), the emerging family of proteases in heart physiology and pathology

Family of metalloproteases include matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs), and ADAMs with a thrombospondin domain (ADAM-TS). Numerous studies have focused on the role of MMPs in cardiac physiology/pathology, whereas contribution of ADAMs/ADAM-TSs has been less explored. ADAMs are membrane-bound proteases that mediate ectodomain shedding of transmembrane proteins. ADAM-TSs are soluble extracellular enzymes that cleave non-fibrillar extracellular matrix proteins. So far, involvement of a number of ADAMs and ADAM-TSs in cardiovascular development or diseases has been reported. However, our understanding of the function of these proteases is far from complete. In this review, we briefly summarize the reports on the demonstrated and speculated function of these proteases in heart disease, and highlight the knowledge gap in this field.