[1][2] In addition they are important in protecting cells from death caused by damage or inflammation.
[3] Reg proteins are involved in the growth and differentiation of cells from various organs under normal and disease conditions.
These proteins function as acute phase reactants, lectins, antiapoptotic factors or growth factors for pancreatic β-cells, neural cells and epithelial cells in the digestive system.
[4] These C-type lectins contain a single carbohydrate recognition domain and once secreted, these soluble proteins act in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner to exert their effects on their cognate receptors, where they may stimulate an anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, or regenerative response depending on the tissue type.
Reg2 is substantially up-regulated in the pancreatic islets, particularly in the β-cells following mycobacterial adjuvant treatment.