ADAM10, a member of the ADAM superfamily, is a membrane-bound protein with a catalytic domain on the cell surface. It functions as a sheddase, cleaving over 100 anchored cell-surface proteins, and is involved in diverse cellular processes such as cell adhesion, migration, and proteolysis. ADAM10 is best known for its role in the Notch signaling pathway. It is expressed in most tissues of the body and is crucial for mammalian development, physiology, and non-amyloidogenic cleavage of APP as the primary α-secretase [1,2,3].

In hair follicles, ablation of the ADAM10-Notch signaling axis in mouse models impaired the innate epithelial barrier, led to skin dysbiosis, and ultimately caused hair follicle destruction due to inflammation [4]. In the context of cancer, ADAM10 cleavage of Trop-2 was shown to act as an activator switch for cancer growth and metastasis, and ADAM10 also modulates the efficacy of T-cell-mediated therapy in solid tumors [5,6]. In Alzheimer's disease, lower levels of ADAM10 were found in platelets of AD patients, while higher levels were seen in plasma, and CSF results were controversial, indicating its potential as a biomarker [7].

In conclusion, ADAM10 is a multifunctional protein involved in various biological processes and diseases. Studies using mouse models have revealed its role in maintaining tissue integrity, such as in hair follicles, and its implications in cancer progression and Alzheimer's disease, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target and biomarker in these disease areas.