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The alpha secretase ADAM10: A metalloprotease with multiple functions in the brain
Saftig P, Lichtenthaler SF.. Progress in neurobiology, 2015-10-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Proteins belonging to the 'A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase' (ADAM) family are membrane-anchored proteases that are able to cleave the extracellular domains of several membrane-bound proteins in a process known as 'ectodomain shedding'. In the central nervous system, ADAM10 has attracted the most attention, since it was described as the amyloid precursor protein α-secretase over ten years ago. Despite the excitement over the potential of ADAM10 as a novel drug target in Alzheimer disease, the physiological functions of ADAM10 in the brain are not yet well understood.
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APA 7th
Saftig, P., & Lichtenthaler, S. F. (2015). The alpha secretase ADAM10: A metalloprotease with multiple functions in the brain. Progress in neurobiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.10.003
Vancouver
Saftig P, Lichtenthaler SF. The alpha secretase ADAM10: A metalloprotease with multiple functions in the brain. Progress in neurobiology. 2015. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.10.003. PMID: 26522965.
BibTeX
@article{saftig2015-26522965,
author = {Saftig, P. and Lichtenthaler, S. F.},
title = {{The alpha secretase ADAM10: A metalloprotease with multiple functions in the brain}},
journal = {Progress in neurobiology},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.10.003},
pmid = {26522965},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.10.003}
}
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Key findings
- In the central nervous system, ADAM10 has attracted the most attention, since it was described as the amyloid precursor protein α-secretase over ten years ago.
- Despite the excitement over the potential of ADAM10 as a novel drug target in Alzheimer disease, the physiological functions of ADAM10 in the brain are not yet well understood.
- This is largely because of the embryonic lethality of ADAM10-deficient mice, which results from the loss of cleavage and signaling of the Notch receptor, another ADAM10 substrate.
- However, the recent generation of conditional ADAM10-deficient mice and the identification of further ADAM10 substrates in the brain has revealed surprisingly numerous and fundamental functions of ADAM10 in the development of the embryonic brain and also in the homeostasis of adult neuronal networks.
Why it matters
This review notes that ADAM10 was described as the amyloid precursor protein alpha-secretase and has attracted interest as a possible drug target, but its normal functions in the brain are still not well understood. It also notes that mice lacking ADAM10 die before birth, which complicates study of the enzyme; no treatment is reported.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Progress in neurobiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Progress in Neurobiology: journal h-index 325 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2015 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 211 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.2 citations a year over 13 year(s) since 2015 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 32 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Stefan F. Lichtenthaler: h-index 65 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Technical University of Munich: institution h-index 1,092 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 26522965) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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