The roles of ADAMTS‐7 and ADAMTS‐12 in disc degeneration have not been previously examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of ADAMTS‐7 and ADAMTS‐12 in the endplate cells isolated from patients with degenerative disc disease and to see whether they are associated with the pathological change of endplate. Sixty‐four degenerated lumbar endplate specimens were obtained from the patients with degenerative disc disease categorized as type Modic I or II in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 12 nondegenerative specimens as control (vertebra burst fracture patients without degenerative change in MRI) during surgical procedures. The expression of ADAMTS‐7 and ADAMTS‐12 was examined by real‐time PCR and Western blotting. A statistically significant increase in mRNA expression of ADAMTS‐7 and ADAMTS‐12 was observed in the endplate cells in degenerative discs compared with nondegenerative discs. The corresponding protein levels of ADAMTS‐7 and ADAMTS‐12 had the same expression patterns. Moreover, ADAMTS‐7 and ADAMTS‐12 down‐regulated the expression of Col II, Sox9, and Col X the marker genes for chondrogenesis. Our results indicate that ADAMTS‐7 and ADAMTS‐12 appear to be potent negative regulators of endplate cartilage development. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1238–1243, 2012