This gene encodes a heavy chain component of one of the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) family members. ITI proteins are involved in extracellular matrix stabilization and in the prevention of tumor metastasis. They are also structurally related plasma serine protease inhibitors and are composed of a light chain and varying numbers of heavy chains. This family member is thought to function as a tumor suppressor in breast and thyroid cancers. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2011].