This gene encodes a protein that binds actin and calcium. This gene is induced by cytokines and interferon and may promote macrophage activation and growth of vascular smooth muscle cells and T-lymphocytes. Polymorphisms in this gene may be associated with systemic sclerosis. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants, but the full-length and coding nature of some of these variants is not certain. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2016].