Background：

This gene encodes a member of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain) 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. The protein encoded by this gene may be involved in cell adhesion during neurodegeneration， and it is thought to be a target for allergic respiratory diseases， including asthma. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.