This gene encodes a member of the alpha-macroglobulin superfamily. The encoded protein acts as an inhibitor for several proteases, and has been reported as the p170 antigen recognized by autoantibodies in the autoimmune disease paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP\; PMID: 20805888). Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2012].
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