Highly cationic protein that has multiple functions. Acts as a chemotactic factor that mediates lymphocytes recruitment to epithelia through binding and activation of the G-protein coupled receptor GPR15 (, ). May be a tumor suppressor; together with SUSD2 has a growth inhibitory effect on colon cancer cells which includes G1 cell cycle arrest . May regulate keratinocyte proliferation . In addition, through activation of Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors (MRGPRs) contributes to pruritogenesis by activating itch-selective sensory neurons and mast cells degranulation .
Has antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Actinomyces spec., and Mycoplasma hominis and lentivirus .
Subcellular locations: Secreted
Expressed at high levels in colon, and cervix and at moderate level in tonsil (, ). Highly reduced expression in primary colon cancer tissues compared with that in adjacent tissues . Highest levels of expression detected in stomach and colon; expressed in epithelium of skin and esophagus, and in some tumor and/or tumor adjacent tissues (TAT), including TAT of esophagus cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) tissues (at protein level) . Highly expressed by inflammatory differentiated keratinocytese .