ADAM15 Adds to Apoptosis Resistance of Synovial Fibroblasts by Modulating Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling

To study the contribution of ADAM15, a disintegrin metalloproteinase that is up-regulated in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial membrane, to the characteristic resistance of RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) to apoptosis induction by genotoxic stress or stimulation with proapoptotic FasL, which is present at high concentrations in RA synovial fluid.Caspase 3/7 activity and the total apoptosis rate in RASFs upon exposure to the DNA-damaging...