May be responsible for anchoring smooth muscle cells to elastic fibers, and may be involved not only in the formation of the elastic fiber, but also in the processes that regulate vessel assembly. Has cell adhesive capacity.
Subcellular locations: Secreted, Extracellular space, Extracellular matrix
Found mainly at the interface between amorphous elastin and microfibrils.
Highest levels are present in fetal heart and adult lung. Intermediate levels in peripheral leukocytes, placenta, and spinal cord and low expression in fetal brain, spleen, thymus, and lung and in adult heart, aorta, testis, bone marrow, small intestine, thymus, lymph node, and appendix.