Probable hormone that may attenuate cell proliferation and induce senescence of oligodendrocyte and neural precursor cells in the central nervous system (PubMed:20404145). ECRG4-induced senescence is characterized by G1 arrest, RB1 dephosphorylation and accelerated CCND1 and CCND3 proteasomal degradation (PubMed:20404145). Expressed in the intermediate lobe of pituitary, glomerular layer of adrenal cortex, choroid plexus and atrioventricular node of the heart (PubMed:17284679). Expressed in the brain with high expression in the choroid plexus and the epithelial lining of the central canal and expression in the gray matter of the spinal cord (at protein level) (PubMed:21349154). At embryonic stage 14.5 dpc, primarily expressed in the choroid plexus, and low expression in the heart and cartilage (at protein level) (PubMed:21349154). At 18.5 dpc, expressed in adrenal cortex, choroid plexus and bone (PubMed:17284679). Low expression in the brain of young, 2-month-old animals, except for the mitral cell layer of the olfactory bulb (PubMed:20404145). Strongly expressed in the brains of aged, 15- to 21-month-old mice with expression in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus and in the corpus callosum (at protein level) (PubMed:20404145). Also expressed in the CA1-3 regions of the hippocampus, as well as in the cerebellum, brainstem and cortex (PubMed:20404145). In vitro, up-regulated in senescent cells, including embryonic fibroblasts and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (PubMed:20404145). Belongs to the augurin family.