Metalloendopeptidase ADAM-like Decysin 1 (ADAMDEC1) in Colonic Subepithelial PDGFRα(+) Cells Is a New Marker for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Metalloendopeptidase ADAM-Like Decysin 1 (ADAMDEC1) is an anti-inflammatory peptidase that is almost exclusively expressed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We have recently found abundant and selective expression of Adamdec1 in colonic mucosal PDGFRα(+) cells. However, the cellular origin for this gene expression is controversial as it is also known to be expressed in intestinal macrophages. We found that Adamdec1 mRNAs were selectively expressed in colonic mucosal subepithelial PDGFRα(+) cells. ADAMDEC1 protein was mainly released from PDGFRα(+) cells and accumulated in the mucosal layer lamina propria space near the epithelial basement membrane. PDGFRα(+) cells significantly overexpressed Adamdec1 mRNAs and protein in DSS-induced colitis mice. Adamdec1 was predominantly expressed in CD45(−) PDGFRα(+) cells in DSS-induced colitis mice, with only minimal expression in CD45(+) CD64(+) macrophages. Additionally, overexpression of both ADAMDEC1 mRNA and protein was consistently observed in PDGFRα(+) cells, but not in CD64(+) macrophages found in human colonic mucosal tissue affected by Crohn’s disease. In summary, PDGFRα(+) cells selectively express ADAMDEC1, which is localized to the colon mucosa layer. ADAMDEC1 expression significantly increases in DSS-induced colitis affected mice and Crohn’s disease affected human tissue, suggesting that this gene can serve as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for intestinal inflammation and Crohn’s disease.