ADAM17 and systemic lupus erythematosus: A recent study demonstrated elevated serum levels of sAxl while membrane-bound Axl measures in peripheral blood mononuclear cell extracts were reduced in SLE patients compared to healthy controls, and showed that responsible for the cleavage of Axl from leukocytes were the cell matrix metalloproteases ADAM10 and TACE, suggesting ADAM10/TACE inhibition as a potential therapeutic modality [20].