Acts as an anti-inflammatory factor in the intestine and colon. Binds to and acts on macrophages to down-regulate pro-inflammatory gene expression. Affects key macrophage functions, including phagocytosis, by down-regulating many key pathways for macrophage activation, partly via by STAT3 activation and signaling. May be required to dampen the immunological response in colitis. The N-terminus is probably cleaved to release a secreted extracellular portion of the protein. Up-regulated in colon cells of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Induced by TGFB1.