Metallothionein-III increases ADAM10 activity in association with furin, PC7, and PKCα during non-amyloidogenic processing

A-disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) is involved in the generation of amyloid-β (Aβ) during amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, and has a protective effect against Aβ neurotoxicity. We explored how metallothionein-III (MT-III) is regulated in the non-amyloidogenic pathway to generate soluble APPα (sAPPα). MT-ІІІ increased sAPPα levels and reduced Aβ peptide levels, but did not affect ADAM10 expression. However, MT-III increased the activity of ADAM10. MT-ІІІ-induced sAPPα secretion, and Aβ peptide formation was blocked by specific inhibitors of furin, proprotein convertase7 (PC7), and PKCα. These results demonstrate that MT-ІІІ increases the amount of active ADAM10 in association with furin, PC7 and PKCα.