Has bactericidal activity against E.faecalis and L.monocytogenes, but not against L.innocua and E.coli. Promotes angiogenesis (in vitro). Has low ribonuclease activity (in vitro). Promotes proliferation of melanoma cells, but not of endothelial cells or fibroblasts (in vitro). Exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers secretion from intestinal epithelium cells (PubMed:12548285). Rapidly endocytosed by target cells and translocated to the nucleus where it accumulates in the nucleolus and binds to DNA (By similarity). Detected in small intestine, caecum and colon, with the highest expression in Paneth cells in the intestinal epithelium. Up-regulated in small intestine by contact with normal intestinal microflora. Expressed at very low levels in intestine from germ-free mice. Belongs to the pancreatic ribonuclease family.