TSC-36 is a secreted extracellular glycoprotein. The amino acid sequence of TSC-36 is similar to follistatin, an inhibitor of activin, as it contains a follistatin module. TSC-36 is a heparin-binding protein suggested to have a role in the negative regulation of cellular growth, as its expression is induced in response to TGF-b1. In addition, TSC-36 is not found in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, a highly aggressive neoplasm, but is detected in some non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, a moderately aggressive neoplasm.. May modulate the action of some growth factors on cell proliferation and differentiation. Binds heparin.