ADAM12
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Through Enzyme, Gene and Down syndrome
Function
This gene encodes a member of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) protein family. Members of this family are membrane-anchored proteins structurally related to snake venom disintegrins, and have been implicated in a variety of biological processes involving cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, including fertilization, muscle development, and neurogenesis. This gene has two alternatively spliced transcripts: a shorter secreted form and a longer membrane-bound form. The shorter form is found to stimulate myogenesis.
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Clinical Significance
ADAM 12, a metalloprotease that binds insulin growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), appears to be an effective early Down syndrome marker. Decreased levels of ADAM 12 may be detected in cases of trisomy 21 as early as 8 to 10 weeks gestation. Maternal serum ADAM 12 and PAPP-A levels at 8 to 9 weeks gestation in combination with maternal age yielded a 91% detection rate for Down syndrome at a 5% false-positive rate. When nuchal translucency data from approximately 12 weeks gestation was added, this increased the detection rate to 97%.
ADAM12 has also been implicated in the development of pathology in various cancers, hypertension, liver fibrogenesis, and asthma. In asthma, ADAM12 is upregulated in lung epithelium in response to TNF-alpha.
In a study of about 1200 persons with extremely high intelligence (IQ about 170), variants of the gene were associated with high IQ compared with a general population.
Interactions
ADAM12 has been shown to interact with:
- ACTN2,
- IGFBP3, and
- PIK3R1.