In the context of inflammation, ADAM17 cleaves and releases the cytokines IL-6 (and IL-6 receptor), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, and various adhesion molecules including ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, which critically regulate the development of numerous disease processes including sepsis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis (5–12). This evidence concerns the gene ADAM17 and inflammatory bowel disease.