Required for maintaining the proliferative activity of embryonic cardiomyocytes by preventing premature activation of the negative cell cycle regulator CDKN1C/p57KIP and maintaining the required expression levels of cardiogenic factors such as MEF2C and NKX2-5. Acts as a ligand for ACVRL1/ALK1, BMPR1A/ALK3 and BMPR1B/ALK6, leading to activation of SMAD1, SMAD5 and SMAD8 transcription factors. Inhibits endothelial cell migration and growth. May reduce cell migration and cell matrix adhesion in breast cancer cell lines.
Subcellular locations: Secreted
Detected in mammary epithelia (at protein level).