This protein plays a role in diverse cellular functions, including message targeting and intracellular calcium buffering.

[15] Furthermore, the essential function of calretinin in mesothelioma cell lines has been demonstrated in vitro and may be an interesting target for therapeutical approaches.

[16] In Hirschsprung disease, calretinin immunohistochemistry offers additional diagnostic value in specimens with inadequate amount of submucosa and rarely seen ganglion cells.

The presence of ganglion cells consistently correlated with calretinin-positive thin nerve fibrils in the lamina propria, muscularis mucosae and superficial submucosa.

These calretinin-positive thin neurofibrils are absent in the aganglionic segments of bowel and in the areas without ganglion cells from the junction of normal with diseased rectum.