Further, it was shown that excessive shedding of the hemidesmosomal transmembrane protein and major autoantigen in bullous pemphigoid, Collagen XVII (also referred to as 180-kd bullous pemphigoid antigen (BP180)), by ADAMs is linked to reduced adhesion and blister formation in this disease (29). The gene discussed is COL17A1; the disease is bullous pemphigoid.