The Emerging Role of the ADAMTS Family in Vascular Diseases

Members of the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) family are involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins during development, morphogenesis, tissue repair, and remodeling. They differ from other proteases like MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) with respect to function, binding and anchoring properties, substrate recognition, and half-life. Thus far, the ADAMTS family has attracted less attention in vascular research than MMPs (Figure 1). Recent findings, however, point towards an important role of ADAMTS family members in atherosclerosis, restenosis, and aneurysm formation.