Clusterin: the intriguing guises of a widely expressed glycoprotein.

The glycoprotein clusterin has recently entered the scientific arena in diverse guises. It forms high-density lipoprotein complexes with apolipoprotein A-I, participates in the terminal complement reaction and serves as a granule constituent in neuronal and endocrine cells. Apically secreted, it is also found in the male reproductive tract and the tubular lumen of epithelial ducts. Thus, it may serve important functions in tissue remodelling, immune defense and transport of biologically active peptides.