ADAM-17 is expressed in the inflammatory myopathy and is involved with interstitial lung disease

The "A disintegrin and metalloprotease" (ADAM) family is thought to play an important role in tissue destruction and inflammatory reactions. ADAM-17 was first described as the protease responsible for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α shedding. Here, we have shown the expression of ADAM-17 in inflammatory myopathy and demonstrated the role of inflammation in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). ADAM-17 in inflammatory myopathy serum [polymyositis (n = 26), dermatomyositis (n = 34), and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (n = 10)] and healthy control (n = 19) was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between ADAM-17 and clinical data was examined. Finally, we performed immunohistological analysis to investigate the expression of ADAM-17 on the muscles of the inflammatory myopathy patients. ADAM-17 in inflammatory myopathy was significantly higher than that in healthy control (mean ± SEM, 1048 ± 312 and 36 ± 18 pg/ml, respectively; p