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We examined transcript expression and post-transcriptional regulation of human ADAM33, a recently identified asthma gene. A detailed messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profile was obtained using Northern, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization analyses. ADAM33 mRNA was expressed significantly in smooth muscle–containing organs, minimally in immune organs and hematopoietic cells, and highly in repairing duodenal granulation tissue. Expression was seen in asthmatic subepithelial fibroblasts and smooth muscle but not in respiratory epithelium. In all tissues, transcripts of ∼ 5 kb predominated over those of ∼ 3.5 kb by 2- to 5-fold. The effect of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) on ADAM33 protein expression and maturation was examined. The presence of the 3′UTR in untagged full-length constructs promoted prodomain removal, detected as mature ∼ 100 kD …