ADAM-mediated shedding of Notch receptor is a key step in activating Notch signaling. The Notch receptor and its ligand Delta-l1 are required for neuroepithelial development during embryogenesis (Wakamatsu et al., 1999; De Bellard et al., 2002). The Notch signaling network is an evolutionarily conserved intercellular signaling pathway that regulates interactions between physically adjacent cells. In the brain, Notch1 promotes differentiation of progenitor cells into astroglia and knocking-out the Notch1 gene is lethal at birth (Miller and Gauthier, 2007). Notch receptor is activated by one of five ligands: Jagged1, Jagged2, Delta-l (like) 1, Delta-l3, or Delta-l4, expressed on adjacent cells. Following ligand binding, Notch receptor is cleaved by ADAM17 at site 2 (S2) and then by γ-secretase at site 3 (S3) (Kopan and Ilagan, 2009), and so is the ectodomain release of Delta and Jagged (Murthy et al., 2012; Groot et al., 2013). Both murine Notch1 and Notch2 require ADAM17 instead of ADAM10 during ligand-independent activation, which is resisted by the human Notch2 (Habets et al., 2015). Since there are major cardiovascular defects in the ADAM17 global knockout mice, which failed to survive postnatal, ADAM17 would also play a role in vascular physiology. In the adult epidermis, ADAM17 permits tonic Notch activation to regulate epithelial cytokine production and maintain barrier immunity. During cerebral angiogenesis, Notch signaling is initiated by receptor-ligand recognition between adjacent cells (Serra et al., 2015). Overexpression of ADAM17 can promote angiogenesis by increasing blood vessel sprouting and pericytes number during brain micro vessel development (Lin et al., 2011).

Within the cardiovascular system, Shi et al. (2003) demonstrated that ADAM17 possibly regulates cardiomyocyte proliferation during the late fetal stage of cardiac development via an epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated pathway. It was showing in the ADAM17 global knockout mice, a remarkably enlarged heart with increased myocardial trabeculation and reduced cell compaction (Shi et al., 2003). It has also been reported that mice lacking functional ADAM17 suffer from several cardiac abnormalities in valvulogenesis, such as thickened, deformed semilunar, and atrioventricular valves (Jackson et al., 2003). Importantly, these lethal cardiac abnormalities resulted from insufficient EGFR activation, which were due to the lack of ADAM17 (Blobel, 2005). The up-regulation of EGFR by ADAM17 stems from the critical ability of this metalloprotease to cleave multiple EGFR ligands, such as EGF itself, TGFα; epiregulin; heparin binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), and neuregulins β1 and β2 (Peschon et al., 1998; Merlos-Suárez et al., 2001; Hinkle et al., 2004; Sahin et al., 2004; Horiuchi et al., 2005; Saftig and Reiss, 2011). Neuregulins β1/2 are considered to be critical to cardiac development (Meyer and Birchmeier, 1995; Meyer et al., 1997; Britsch et al., 1998). Arguing against potential compensatory or redundant functions of other members from the ADAM family, quadruple knockout mice lacking ADAM 9, 12, 15, and 17 do not have a more severe phenotype than mice lacking only ADAM17 (Sahin et al., 2004).

In addition to the defects on cardiac development, removal of ADAM17 from subcortical white matter (SCWM) of postnatal mice (90 days) led to abnormalities in Schwann myelination causing impaired motor behaviors (Palazuelos et al., 2014). ADAM17-induced shedding of EGFR ligands, HB-EGF and TGFα, promotes the expansion of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells during the critical periods of Schwann myelination. However, neuregulin-1 cleavage mediated by ADAM17 can negatively regulate myelination in the peripheral nervous system. Down-regulation of ADAM17 expression or its inactivation in motor neurons can lead to abnormal myelination (La Marca et al., 2011).

Soluble TNFα, a potent cytokine, is converted from pro-TNFα through ADAM17-mediated cleavage in various cell types. In heart, TNFα is crucially involved in the genesis and progression of several cardiovascular processes. Satoh et al. (1999) have shown that myocardial ADAM17 and TNFα expression in both mRNA and protein levels are increased in humans with dilated cardiomyopathy (Satoh et al., 1999), establishing a positive correlation between ADAM17 and TNFα in cardiovascular disorder. They later showed that increased expression of TNFα and ADAM17 had important implications in advanced cardiac dysfunction in myocarditis. In the myocardium, TNFα contributes to reversible and irreversible ischemia/reperfusion injury, post myocardial infarction remodeling, and heart failure development. Simultaneously, TNFα is also involved in cardio-protective processes in ischemic conditioning. The harmful and beneficial roles of TNFα appear to be dose- and time-dependent and in part related to the activation of specific receptor subtypes (Kleinbongard et al., 2010).

One possible pathway to activate TNFα in the myocardium is through EGFR and many studies have shown that ADAM17 is the main contributor to EGFR transactivation in cardiovascular system (Ohtsu et al., 2006b; Takayanagi et al., 2015). Furthermore, Küper et al. (2007) were the first to suggest a co-dependency between ADAM17-mediated up-regulation of EGFR and TNFα. They observed that within renal collecting duct cells LPS induces EGFR activation via TLR4/ADAM17 (Küper et al., 2007). Based on this study, Sun et al. (2015) have found that this promotes myocardial TNFα production and cardiac failure in endotoxemic mice (Sun et al., 2015). Another TNF-α activation pathway in cardiac cells by ADAM17 is through the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src. Src mediates ADAM17 activation in mechanically stretched rat cardiomyocytes by phosphorylating the Tyr⁷⁰² residue within the intracellular tail of ADAM17, leading to activation of p38 MAPK and thus TNF-α receptor activation (Niu et al., 2015).

The association between ADAM17 and cardiac function is not limited to local effects in the heart. Akatsu et al. (2003) demonstrated an increased expression of TNFα and ADAM17 in circulating leukocytes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with higher plasma TNFα levels when compared with healthy control patients (Akatsu et al., 2003). Shimoda et al. (2005) confirmed the positive correlation between ADAM17 and TNFα levels in AMI (Shimoda et al., 2005). In addition, they observed that these levels were higher in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AMI patients with in-hospital complications, such as pump failure, malignant ventricular arrhythmia, recurrent myocardial infarction, and cardiac death. Moreover, ADAM17 expression and TNFα levels were found to be increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, especially from individuals with advanced congestive heart failure (Satoh et al., 2004).

ADAM17 expression is found throughout endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and leukocytes (Dreymueller et al., 2012). The consequences of shedding events for vascular biology depend on the type of substrate shed. This can result in pro- or anti-inflammatory effects depending on the nature of the transmembrane protein cleaved, the generation of soluble receptor agonists or antagonists, modulation of cellular responsiveness, modulation of adhesive properties, and formation of transcription factors (Canault et al., 2006). Interestingly, ADAM17 has been described to be overexpressed in ruptured coronary plaques from infarcted patients and atherosclerotic plaques from apolipoprotein E knockout mice (apoE^−/−, an important experimental model of atherosclerosis; Canault et al., 2006; Satoh et al., 2008), revealing its fundamental role in this vascular disease.

ADAM17 activity is correlated to adverse clinical outcomes in acute coronary atherosclerosis (Satoh et al., 2008; Gutiérrez-López et al., 2011; Rizza et al., 2015). An important group of substrates for ADAM17 includes adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1), L-selectin, and others. These adhesion molecules are involved in leukocyte migration through the vessel wall which is one of the first steps leading to atheroma formation (Gutiérrez-López et al., 2011; Freitas Lima et al., 2015). Shedding of cell adhesion molecules weakens cell–cell interactions and reduces adhesiveness of leukocytes (Arribas and Esselens, 2009; Dreymueller et al., 2012). It has been reported that ADAM17 null leukocytes present increase L-selectin levels (Tang et al., 2011). Interestingly, Zhang et al. demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) is a critical factor involved in ADAM17 activation due to nitrosilation of thiol group in cysteine residues in the inhibitory pro-domain of ADAM17. This might explain the increased adhesion of leukocytes in dysfunctional endothelium (Zhang et al., 2000), which presents reduced NO bioavailability (Balarini et al., 2013).

Kärkkäinen et al. (2000) was the first to demonstrate the expression of ADAM17 mRNAs in adult mouse and rat brains, using in situ hybridization (Kärkkäinen et al., 2000). ADAM17 showed a restricted pattern of distribution in the telencephalon and diencephalon. Within the mesencephalon, ADAM17 mRNA was detected in the hippocampus along with the inferior colliculus. In addition, ADAM17 mRNA was also detected in the cerebellar cortex, pontine nuclei, and cerebral cortex. According to these data, Hurtado et al. (2001) demonstrated constitutive expression of ADAM17 protein in rat brain (Hurtado et al., 2001). Aspects related to cell location and origin of ADAM17 have been clarified in later studies.

Goddard et al. (2001) in an immunohistochemical study showed that ADAM17 is expressed in astrocytes and endothelial cells from healthy adult human brain tissue and may have a role in normal brain function (Goddard et al., 2001). Hurtado et al. (2002) also found ADAM17 protein expression in astrocytes as well as rat microglial cells (Hurtado et al., 2002). Skovronsky et al. (2001), using Western Blots and immunolabeling approaches, found that ADAM17 was present in neurons of the hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum, and was slightly detectable in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglial cells (Skovronsky et al., 2001). Since ADAM17 is expressed in different cell types in the CNS and promotes ectodomain shedding of several molecules, this enzyme would participate in several cellular events.

Increased plasma ADAM17 activity was found in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Within the brain, ADAM17 can work as an α-secretase and cleave the amyloid precursor protein (APP) into soluble APPα fragment (sAPPα; Skovronsky et al., 2001; Asai et al., 2003). This shedding of APP is able to reduce the generation of neurotoxic amyloid β (Aβ) peptide in a competitive way. It is believed to be a possible neural protection and repair mechanism. On the contrary, ADAM17 is also a neuro-inflammatory target which responds to ischemia and other stress factors (Romera et al., 2004; Munhoz et al., 2008). Some of the subsequently increased inflammatory factors, like TNFα, can activate glial cells and be harmful to homeostasis within the brain (Suzumura, 2013). From this point of view, activation of ADAM17 can be neurotoxic. As described before, ADAM17 was initially reported to be responsible for the proteolytic activation of the membrane precursor of TNFα, which is critically involved in inflammation. The pro-inflammatory activity of TNFα is predominantly mediated by TNFα receptor type 1 (TNFR1) and to some extent by TNF receptor type 2 (TNFR2), both of which have been found to undergo shedding via ADAM17 (Chanthaphavong et al., 2012). Wang et al. (2003) had linked the shedding of TNF receptors to neutralization of soluble TNFα-induced actions. Either ADAM17 expression or activity have found to be altered in neuro-inflammatory conditions, in which, the level of TNFα is increased, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury (Romera et al., 2004; Plumb et al., 2006). Conditional deletion of the ADAM17 gene or inhibition of the protein, effectively blocks LPS-induced TNFα release and systemic inflammation in mice (Zhang et al., 2004). This demonstrates that ADAM17-mediated shedding is a critical trigger for pro-inflammatory signaling of TNFα. In addition, BB1101, a blocker of ADAM17, was shown to be effective in reducing TNFα levels in stressed animal models (Madrigal et al., 2002). Interestingly, the specific antagonist of NMDA receptor, MK-801, can, not only decrease stress-induced activity and expression of ADAM17, but also its constitutive expression, as well as TNFα levels (Madrigal et al., 2002). Therefore, in the CNS, excitation or stimulations targeting glutamatergic neurons may cause up-regulation of ADAM17 activity and will contribute to neuro-inflammation eventually. The mechanism of this neuro-excitation-induced ADAM17 activation is thought to be mediated via nuclear factor-κ B (NFκB). Stress-induced neuro-inflammation activates NFκB in the hippocampus as soon as 4 h after the onset of stress in rats (Madrigal et al., 2006). The implication of ADAM17 and TNFα in stress-induced activation of NFκB was confirmed after finding that decreased TNFα is mediated by hepatocyte growth factor-like protein-induced decrease in NFκB activation and increased by the NFκB inhibitory protein, IκB (Nikolaidis et al., 2010).

Besides TNFα, inflammation is also characterized by elevated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6). ADAM17 is the main sheddase for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) to induce IL-6 trans-signaling (Pruessmeyer and Ludwig, 2009). Released IL-6R is capable of binding IL-6 and the formed receptor-ligand complex then stimulates gp130 on the cell surface, even in the absence of transmembrane IL-6R (Scheller et al., 2011). This pathway is thought to play an important role in chronic inflammatory processes. In immune cells, like neutrophils, ADAM17 and secondary shedding of IL-6R can be activated by apoptosis (Chalaris et al., 2007).

In the nervous system, expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) can be up-regulated by glia-secreted cytokines. Shedding of the CAMs, such as CX3CL1 (fractalkine), L-selectin, VCAM-1, and JAM-A (junctional adhesion molecule-A) are induced by activation of ADAM10 or ADAM17 (Kalus et al., 2006; Pruessmeyer and Ludwig, 2009). In the periphery, CX3CL1 guides leukocytes to the site of inflammation. Within 4–6 h after onset of ischemia, circulating leukocytes adhere to vessel walls and migrate into the brain with subsequent release of additional pro-inflammatory mediators. The ADAM17-related adhesion procedure is critical during the process of inflammation (Lakhan et al., 2009). On the other hand, CX3CL1 can be secreted from damaged neurons and then activate microglia to rescue neurons by up-regulating phagocytosis of toxicants or damaged debris and production of anti-oxidant enzymes, like superoxide dismutase (Vernon and Tang, 2013; Limatola and Ransohoff, 2014). Furthermore, ADAM17-mediated shedding is important to neuronal outgrowth in the developmental process. ADAM17 regulates L1CAM (L1-cell adhesion molecule)-dependent neuronal cell adhesion, cell migration, as well as neurite outgrowth (Mechtersheimer et al., 2001; Maretzky et al., 2005). L1CAM has been observed within late embryonic/early postnatal cortical neurons and fibers in the corpus callosum and corticospinal tract (Fujimori et al., 2000; Jakovcevski et al., 2013). In mice embryonic cortex, knocking-down ADAM17 could affect L1-involed neuronal intermediate progenitor cells multipolar exit and migration (Li et al., 2013).

ADAM17 is expressed in atherosclerosis-prone sites, however it is not clear whether this expression is due to an up-regulation of enzyme expression or due to its expression by newly infiltrated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and leukocytes (Canault et al., 2006). It is well-established that Ang-II can induce VSMC hypertrophy, proliferation and migration, which are important steps toward atheroma formation (Freitas Lima et al., 2015). Ang-II can induce ADAM17 protein expression in the vasculature and increase its activity by tyrosine phosphorylation (Elliott et al., 2013; Obama et al., 2015). ADAM17-induced EGFR transactivation is considered a major contributor in Ang-II-induced vascular remodeling. It was reported that Ang-II induces expression of fibronectin and transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) through downstream signaling of EGFR transactivation and ER stress. This occurs via a signaling mechanism involving ADAM17-mediated shedding which is independent of hypertension (Moriguchi et al., 1999; Takayanagi et al., 2015).

In atherosclerotic plaques, neovascularization occurs as a physiological response to increased oxygen demand which causes adverse effects by facilitating inflammatory influx and favoring the conditions that destabilize the plaque. Thus, inhibition of neovascularization results in limited atherosclerotic lesion (van Hinsbergh et al., 2015). ADAM17 positively regulates angiogenesis by inhibiting the expression of the anti-angiogenic factor thrombospondin 1, presenting a positive role in pathological angiogenesis (Caolo et al., 2015). ADAM17 is also critical for EGFR signaling due to the proteolytic release of several ligands of EGFR in the vessels, such as HB-EGF. Weskamp et al. demonstrated that inactivation of ADAM17 in endothelial cells reduced pathological neovascularization whereas its inactivation in smooth muscle cells revealed no evident effect (Weskamp et al., 2010). The underlying mechanism is probably EGFR signaling stimulated by EGFR ligands released by ADAM17 from endothelial cells. Selective inhibition of ADAM17 could be beneficial for the treatment of diseases implied in pathological neovascularization (Weskamp et al., 2010), such as atherosclerosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and its receptor (VEGFR) are also critical for regulating angiogenesis in physiological and pathological conditions. VEGFR type 2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor which is considered the principal coordinator of adult angiogenesis (Swendeman et al., 2008). This receptor can be shed from cells by ADAM17. VEGF-A/VEGFR2 were shown to stimulate ADAM17, resulting in shedding of VEGFR2 and other ADAM17 substrates (Swendeman et al., 2008). This could limit angiogenesis process and reveal a potential novel target for treatment of pathological neovascularization associated to atherosclerosis. It is important to highlight that ADAM17 over-expression or inhibition could either increase or decrease neovascularization as it also presents pro- or anti-inflammatory functions.

Plaque rupture and subsequent thrombotic complications are adverse events associated with atherosclerosis (Freitas Lima et al., 2015). Local over-activity of ADAM17 may weaken atherosclerotic plaques, causing its rupture. In this context, Rizza et al. suggested that measuring ADAM17 activity may predict major cardiovascular events in subjects with established atherosclerosis (Rizza et al., 2015). Although ADAM17 activity was evaluated in an indirect manner through the measurement of its substrates in circulation, authors suggest that it is reasonable to assume that the increase in these molecules is related to increased ADAM17 activity in inflammatory sites. In addition, it was observed that unsaturated fatty acids in LDL particles are also involved in ADAM17 activation in the endothelial layer, due to increase in membrane fluidity, creating a link between endothelial dysfunction/atherosclerosis and increase in ADAM17 substrates in patients at risk (Reiss et al., 2011; Menghini et al., 2013).

Over the years, an important role for ADAM17 in neural injury and degeneration has gradually become clear. Via shedding of TGFα, ADAM17 can work as the constitutive sheddase of epiregulin and amphiregulin, both members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family playing important roles in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and survival (Freimann et al., 2004; West et al., 2008). Recombination of epiregulin and amphiregulin proteins can effectively inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress and the subsequent induction of neuronal cell death. Therefore, up-regulation of epiregulin and amphiregulin in glial cells may have neuro-protective effects and provide a potential therapy for brain injury (Zhan et al., 2015). However, there is evidence suggesting an association between increased expression of ADAM17 and various types of cancer. EGFR binding with ligands after ADAM17-induced shedding can subsequently activate MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, which contribute to the invasiveness and other malignant phenotypes of tumors. Glioma is the most common malignant intrinsic primary brain tumor. By up-regulating the ligands of EGFR, ADAM17 can promote glioma cells malignant phenotype by increased proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. In glioma cells and glioma-bearing nude mice, targeting ADAM17 with TAPI-2 (an ADAM17 inhibitor) or siRNA, can significantly attenuate tumor growth and invasiveness, compared to their untreated counterparts (Zheng et al., 2012). Further, it has been shown that beyond the EGFR pathway, TGFβ (transforming growth factor-β) also plays a key role in the regulation of glioma formation and progression (Lu et al., 2011). Interestingly, TGFβ, which can rapidly induce ADAM17 phosphorylation, is actually an upstream signal of ADAM17 (Wang et al., 2008). However, the mechanism of TGFβ-induced tumor formation and progression is not simply mediated by activation of the downstream EGFR pathway. Mu et al. found that TGFβ utilized TRAF6 (TNFR-associated factor 6), PKC ζ and ADAM17 to promote the formation of the TβRI (serine/threonine kinase receptor I) intracellular domain, which could be translocated to the nucleus, where it promotes tumor invasion by induction of Snail and MMP2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2; Mu et al., 2011).

Overactivity of the RAS contributes to the development and maintenance of cardiac hypertrophy in experimental models and humans. Whilst the primary physiological role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the RAS is to hydrolyze Ang-I into the potent vasoconstrictor Ang-II, ACE2 is able to cleave Ang-II to produce Ang-(1–7), a peptide which has opposing effects (Xia and Lazartigues, 2008). Therefore, ACE2 is an important regulator within the RAS. Cardiac hypertrophy and impaired contractility are associated with decreased ACE2, whereas ACE2 over-expression protects the heart from Ang II-mediated cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis (Bodiga et al., 2011; Patel et al., 2012). Interestingly, neuronal overexpression of ACE2 has also therapeutic effects on Ang-II-induced cardiac hypertrophy (Feng et al., 2012), confirming the pivotal role of ACE2 within the brain RAS and in the central regulation of cardiovascular function. The compensatory role of ACE2 is compromised, as it is a subject of ADAM17-mediated shedding. The ACE2 ectodomain is cleaved from the cell membrane by ADAM17 and released into the extracellular milieu (Lambert et al., 2005). This further fuels the involvement of ADAM17 in cardiac hypertrophy, as has been shown in both animal and human studies. For example, systemic treatment of ADAM17-targeting siRNA for 30 days effectively stopped the progression of agonist-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats and mice following Ang-II infusion (Wang et al., 2009).

Similarly, Patel et al. (2014) found that in mice infused with Ang-II, there was an angiotensin receptors type I (AT₁R)-mediated increase in myocardial ADAM17 expression and activity. Membrane translocation of ADAM17 was linked to a substantial reduction in myocardial ACE2 protein and activity with a corresponding increase in plasma ACE2 activity, suggesting that Ang-II-induced ACE2 shedding was mediated by ADAM17. Reactive oxygen species seem to play a key role since p47^phox knockout mice were resistant to Ang-II-induced ADAM17 activation with preservation of myocardial ACE2 and attenuated Ang-II-mediated cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophy (Patel et al., 2014).

Lautrette et al. (2005) demonstrated that peripheral inhibition of ADAM17 with TAPI-2 does not decrease systolic blood pressure in Ang II-infused mice, suggesting that cardiac ADAM17 participates in the development of cardiac hypertrophy, but does not play a primary role in the regulation of blood pressure in this model (Lautrette et al., 2005). However, our group has recently demonstrated that ADAM17 in the brain actually contributes to the development of neurogenic hypertension (Xia et al., 2013). Similar to the heart, overactivity of the brain RAS is a major contributor to the development and maintenance of neurogenic hypertension (Itaya et al., 1986; Davisson et al., 1998). Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt treatment, a well-characterized model for neurogenic hypertension (Yemane et al., 2010), led to enhanced ADAM17 expression and activity. This ultimately reduced the expression and activity of ACE2 in the mouse hypothalamus (Xia et al., 2013). In addition, the treatment with tempol or α-lipoic acid, blunted ADAM17 activity and preserved ACE2 compensatory effects, suggesting a possible role of oxidative stress in the up-regulation of ADAM17 during DOCA-salt hypertension (de Queiroz et al., 2015).

The activation of ADAM17 by DOCA-salt treatment could be dependent on AT₁R. Following AT₁R activation, downstream signaling pathways involving ROS, PKC, MAPK, and calcium (Ca²⁺) might not only up-regulate the activity of ADAM17 but also interfere with the protective effects of ACE2 by interacting with other molecules. In ACE2-expressed HEK cells, calmodulin (CaM) interacts with ACE2. Inhibiting CaM increased the release of the ACE2 ectodomain in a dose- and time-dependent manner (Lambert et al., 2008). This association between CaM and ACE2 has also been reported in the CNS. In mice with DOCA-salt hypertension, interaction between ACE2 and CaM was found to be decreased (Xia et al., 2013), covceivably because of an increase in intracellular [Ca²⁺]. The structure of CaM can be expanded by its specific Ca²⁺ binding sites, which possibly contributes to the dissociation of CaM from the cytoplasmic site of ACE2. This might render ACE2 vulnerable to the shedding activity of ADAM17.

The balance between the classic RAS and the ACE2-related compensatory axis is important to the maintenance of a normal blood pressure as well as central regulation of autonomic function. In mouse basolateral amygdala, overexpression of ACE2 significantly increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (indicative of presynaptic release of GABA) from pyramidal neurons. This effect was eliminated by central administration of a Mas receptor (MasR) antagonist, suggesting a possible role of ACE2 in GABA neurotransmission via MasR activation (Wang et al., 2016). Accordingly, ADAM17 can contribute to increased sympathetic outflow by down-regulating ACE2 activity, which in turn exacerbates the contribution of classic RAS. In mice with ACE2 deletion, we observed an increase of baseline blood pressure, which could reach hypertensive levels with age (Xia et al., 2011).

Moreover, ADAM17 can control the transcription of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which in turn mediated angiotensin-II (Ang-II)-induced hypertension in mice independently of cardiac hypertrophy or fibrosis, showing that the effects of ADAM17 in the cardiovascular system may be connected to other metalloproteinases (Odenbach et al., 2011).

The Figure 2 summarizes the main targets of ADAM17-induced shedding described in the text, the downstream events of their proteolytic cleavage and pathological and physiological processes influenced by ADAM17-dependent shedding.

ADAM share characteristics with the wider family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), which are regulated by a group of endogenous inhibitors. Among them, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) not only blocks the activity of MMP but also inhibits the ectodomain shedding induced by ADAM17 (Amour et al., 1998). Both ADAM17 and TIMP3 have high abundance in the heart, kidney and brain. Mice with TIMP3 deficiency show significant increase in ADAM17 activity and soluble TNF-α abundance (Federici et al., 2005; Guinea-Viniegra et al., 2009). This is believed to be responsible for Ang-II-induced vascular inflammation and remodeling (Basu et al., 2012, 2013). Zheng et al. (2016) demonstrated that enhanced ADAM17 expression with decreased TIMP3 and increased TNF-α expression, within 1 week after AMI, are associated with cardiac remodeling (Zheng et al., 2016). These data confirm that ADAM17 is an important regulator of TNF-α maturation and may be a potential target for the inhibition of cellular TNF-α production in cardiovascular disorders. In addition, it was demonstrated that an imbalance between ADAM17 and TIMP3 is characteristic of unstable carotid plaques (Menghini et al., 2013; Rizza et al., 2015). On the other hand, treatment with soluble TIMP3 can impart a neuro-protective effect and enhance neurite out-growth both in vitro and in animals with brain-injury, in vivo by activating the Akt-mTORC1 signaling pathway (Gibb et al., 2015).

In normal baseline conditions, the cytoplasmic tail of ADAM17 supports cell surface homo-dimerization. The ADAM17 homodimers associate with TIMP3, which silences the shedding activity of ADAM17. Phosphorylation on the cytoplasmic domain of ADAM17 disrupts the homodimers into monomers. This relieves TIMP3 association from ADAM17 enabling it to increase proteolysis of its substrates and hence shifting away from normal baseline condition (Xu et al., 2012).

Because of its essential role in normal fetal development, disruption of the ADAM17 gene leads to perinatal lethality with opened eyes, defects in aortic, pulmonic, and tricuspid heart valves (Li et al., 2015). Mice with a targeted deletion of exon11 that encodes the catalytic active site of the metalloprotease domain (ADAM17^ΔZn/ΔZn), resulting in a lack of enzymatic activity, also display substantial perinatal lethality within 2 weeks. Though one study reported that some ADAM17^ΔZn/ΔZn null mice could survive to adulthood, they still have phenotypic abnormalities like dramatic weight loss and significant defects in the immune system (Gelling et al., 2008). Therefore, while the global knockout model may be useful for studies focusing on the physiological role of ADAM17, it might not be suitable for investigating its therapeutic role in pathological processes. Moreover, ADAM17-mediated shedding involves a variety of receptors and substrates, which are distributed in different cell types and various tissues. Accordingly, targeting of a specific cell population or tissue becomes a better solution for studies trying to identify ADAM17 and its potential role in certain disease or pathological processes. Since the therapeutic use of pharmacological inhibitors of ADAM17 also has its own limitation, several types of conditional ADAM17 knockout animals have been generated and already expanded our knowledge of ADAM17 roles (Table 1). Using Cre-LoxP technology, these models are amenable for conditional, pre- or post-developmental, deletion of neuronal ADAM17, making them attractive for in vivo studies in adult animals devoid of gross anatomical defects. These ADAM17 conditional knockout models should be quite useful for studies focusing on ADAM17-related neurological diseases and neurogenic cardiovascular disorders.

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.