Acts in part as a hepatokine that is involved in regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism (PubMed:11788823, PubMed:12671033). Proposed to play a role in the trafficking of energy substrates to either storage or oxidative tissues in response to food intake (PubMed:26305978). Has a stimulatory effect on plasma triglycerides (TG), which is achieved by suppressing plasma TG clearance via inhibition of LPL activity; the function seems to be specific for the feeding conditions. The inhibition of LPL activity appears to be an indirect mechanism involving recruitment of proprotein convertases PCSK6 and FURIN to LPL leading to cleavage and dissociation of LPL from the cell surface; the function does not require ANGPTL3 proteolytic cleavage but seems to be mediated by the N-terminal domain, and is not inhibited by GPIHBP1 (PubMed:12909640, PubMed:16081640, PubMed:20581395). Can inhibit endothelial lipase, causing increased plasma levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and phospholipids; the cleaved N-terminal domain is more efficient than the uncleaved proprotein (PubMed:17681148). Can bind to adipocytes to activate lipolysis, releasing free fatty acids and glycerol (By similarity). Suppresses LPL specifically in oxidative tissues which is required to route very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG to white adipose tissue (WAT) for storage in response to food; the function may involve cooperation with circulating, liver-derived ANGPTL8 and ANGPTL4 expression in WAT (PubMed:26305978). Contributes to lower plasma levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol by a mechanism that is independent of the canonical pathway implicating APOE and LDLR (PubMed:25954050). May stimulate hypothalamic LPL activity (PubMed:25338813). Involved in angiogenesis (PubMed:11877390). Binds to endothelial cells via integrin alpha-V/beta-3 (ITGAV:ITGB3), activates FAK, MAPK and Akt signaling pathways and induces cell adhesion and cell migration (By similarity). May increase the motility of podocytes. Secreted from podocytes, may modulate properties of glomerular endothelial cells involving integrin alpha-V/beta-3 and Akt signaling (By similarity). May induce actin filament rearrangements in podocytes implicating integrin alpha-V/beta-3 and Rac1 activation (PubMed:20633534, PubMed:24294595, PubMed:25710887). Binds to hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and is involved in the regulation of HSC activity probably implicating down-regulation of IKZF1/IKAROS (PubMed:20959605). Interacts with ANGPTL8 (By similarity). Interacts with ITGB3. Colocalized with HSPG2 and activated ITGB3 on podocytes. Predominantly expressed in liver, weakly expressed in kidney and lung. Expressed in podocytes (at protein level). Expressed in hypothalamic neurons (at protein level). Expressed in bone marrow sinusoidal endothelial cells (at protein level). Down-regulated by insulin and leptin. Not regulated by nutritional status (fed/fasting) Up-regulated in podocytes by puromycin. Up-regulated after feeding in the hypothalamus. The fibrinogen C-terminal domain is sufficient to mediate endothelial cell adhesion. In part proteolytically cleaved by proprotein convertases; proposed to be involved in activation. In primary hepatocytes is intracellularily predominantly processed by FURIN and extracellularily by FURIN and PCSK6/PACE4. In 18.5 dpc embryos 75% of protein is found to be processed compared to 25 % in adults. Low plasma levels of triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and HDL phospholipids, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Animals fed on high-fat, high-calorie (HFC) diet show reduced epididymal adipose tissue weight with no difference in adipocyte size. Hypotriglyceridemia with elevated postheparin plasma LPL activity is specifically observed in the fed state. Mice deficient in both Angptl3 and Angptl4 show an additive effect on plasma triglycerides and did not survive past 2 months of age. Was suggested to inhibit LPL through a direct mechanism; however, the necessary concentrations to achieve the in vitro inhibition are at least 30-fold higher than ANGPTL3 plasma concentrations.