May be a survival factor for hippocampal and mesencephalic neurons. The shedded form up-regulates cancer cell proliferation, probably by promoting ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
Subcellular locations: Membrane
Subcellular locations: Membrane
Subcellular locations: Secreted
Highly expressed in adult and fetal brain, spinal cord and prostate. Expressed in all brain regions except the pituitary gland, with highest levels in amygdala and corpus callosum. Expressed in the pericryptal myofibroblasts and other stromal cells of normal colonic mucosa. Expressed in prostate carcinoma. Down-regulated in colorectal cancer. Present in Alzheimer disease plaques (at protein level). Isoform 3 is expressed weakly in testis and at high levels in normal and cancerous prostate.