Review

A new biological marker candidate in female reproductive system diseases: Matrix metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)

10.5152/jtgga.2014.14206

  • Kadir Demircan
  • İsmail Cömertoğlu
  • Sümeyya Akyol
  • Beyza Nur Yiğitoğlu
  • Esma Sarıkaya

Received Date: 31.10.2014 Accepted Date: 11.11.2014 J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2014;15(4):250-255 PMID: 25584036

Playing a key role in the pathophysiology of many diseases, A Disintegrin-like and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin type-1 motif (ADAMTS) proteinases have been attracted more attention in obstetrics and gynecology. First discovered in 1997, this zinc-dependent proteinase family has 19 members today. These enzymes, which are located in the extracellular matrix (ECM), have a lot of very important functions, like matrix formation and resorption, angiogenesis, ovulation, and coagulation. In addition, in the pathogenesis of cancer, inflammation, arthritis, and connective tissue diseases, ADAMTS proteinases have crucial roles. The purpose of this review is to collect previous studies about obstetrics and gynecology that are related to ADAMTS enzymes and discuss the subject in many aspects to give an idea to the investigators who are interested in the subject.

Keywords: ADAMTS, reproductive diseases, biological marker