Adhesive glycoprotein that mediates cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions (PubMed:15014436, PubMed:18285447, PubMed:2430973, PubMed:6489349). Multifunctional, involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, wound healing, reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, nitrous oxide (NO) signaling, apoptosis, senescence, aging, cellular self-renewal, stemness, and cardiovascular and metabolic homeostasis (PubMed:10613822, PubMed:11134179, PubMed:1371676, PubMed:14568985, PubMed:24511121, PubMed:29042481, PubMed:32679764). Negatively modulates dendritic cell activation and cytokine release, as part of an autocrine feedback loop, contributing to the resolution of inflammation and immune homeostasis (PubMed:14568985). Ligand for receptor CD47 (PubMed:19004835, PubMed:8550562). Modulates nitrous oxide (NO) signaling via CD47, hence playing a role as a pressor agent, supporting blood pressure (By similarity). Plays a role in endothelial cell senescence, acting via CD47, by increasing the abundance and activation of NADPH oxidase NOX1, and so generating excess ROS (PubMed:29042481). Inhibits stem cell self-renewal, acting via CD47 signaling, probably by regulation of the stem cell transcription factors POU5F1/OCT4, SOX2, MYC/c-Myc and KLF4 (By similarity). Negatively modulates wound healing, acting via CD47 (By similarity). Ligand for receptor CD36 (PubMed:10613822, PubMed:11134179, PubMed:1371676). Involved in inducing apoptosis in podocytes in response to elevated free fatty acids, acting via CD36 (By similarity). Plays a role in suppressing angiogenesis, acting, depending on context, via CD36 or CD47 (PubMed:10613822, PubMed:11134179, PubMed:1371676, PubMed:32679764). Promotes cellular senescence in a TP53-CDKN1A-RB1 signaling-dependent manner (PubMed:29042481). Ligand for immunoglobulin-like cell surface receptor SIRPA (PubMed:24511121). Involved in ROS signaling in non-phagocytic cells, stimulating NADPH oxidase-derived ROS production, acting via interaction with SIRPA (PubMed:24511121). Plays a role in metabolic dysfunction in diet-induced obesity, perhaps acting by exacerbating adipose inflammatory activity; its effects may be mediated, at least in part, through enhanced adipocyte proliferation (By similarity). Plays a role in ER stress response, via its interaction with the activating transcription factor 6 alpha (ATF6) which produces adaptive ER stress response factors (By similarity). May be involved in age-related conditions, including metabolic dysregulation, during normal aging (PubMed:29042481, PubMed:32679764).