Plays a role in modulating chloride current across the plasma membrane in a calcium-dependent manner, and cell adhesion. Involved in basal cell adhesion and/or stratification of squamous epithelia. May act as a tumor suppressor in breast and colorectal cancer. Plays a key role for cell adhesion in the beginning stages of lung metastasis via the binding to ITGB4.
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane, Basal cell membrane, Cell junction
Subcellular locations: Secreted
Remains associated to the 35 kDa form until an unidentified event triggers the release.
Expressed in cornea, skin, vagina, esophagus, and larynx (at protein level). Expressed in trachea and mammary gland. Weakly expressed in testis and kidney. Highly expressed in corneal epithelium, colon and trachea. Moderately expressed in brain, urogenital organs, bladder, uterus and prostate. Highly expressed in tissues containing stratified epithelium including cornea, esophagus, larynx, skin and vagina than those tissues which contain only epithelial monolayers. Expressed in normal breast epithelium but not in breast cancer. Highly expressed during epithelial stratification. Expressed in endothelial cells of lung. Expressed selectively in endothelia of small pulmonary arteries, arterioles, and subpleural and interlobular venules.