Reg proteins are involved in the growth and differentiation of cells from various organs under normal and disease conditions.
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.