Dept of Pathology, Oita Medical University, Hasama-machi 879-5503, Oita, Japan. yamamoto@oita-med.ac.jp
CD156 is a member of a family proteins characterized by a disintegrin and a metalloprotease domain (ADAM). These molecules are phylogenically conserved but have individual roles in a variety of cells. Here, Shunsuke Yamamoto and colleagues discuss data suggesting that ADAM family proteins have important roles in the immune system.