ADAMDEC1 and Its Role in Inflammatory Disease and Cancer

Abstract

: A disintegrin and metalloprotease like decysin (ADAMDEC1) is a highly conserved secreted metalloprotease that belongs to a family of A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAMs). It is expressed exclusively in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and is known to possess a very rare zinc-binding motif (HEXXHXXGXXD) within the metalloprotease domain. The biological function of ADAMDEC1 as well as its true biological substrates remains unknown although its characteristic features reported to date suggest it plays a fundamental role in the physiology of mammals. Historically its expression, in healthy state, was believed to be limited to the monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and dendritic cells within the gastrointestinal tract; however, the recent development of single-cell sequencing has provided evidence supporting its expression in a wider range of cell types. There is an increasing body of evidence linking the alterations in ADAMDEC1 expression and various inflammatory diseases and cancers. Although a detailed mechanistic role of ADAMDEC1 in these conditions remains elusive. In this review, we aim to summarise the characteristic features of this unique metalloprotease, discuss the associations with various human diseases and define the potential mechanistic role of ADAMDEC1 in mammalian physiology.