Extracellular matrix protein implicated in guidance of migrating neurons as well as axons during development, synaptic plasticity as well as neuronal regeneration. Promotes neurite outgrowth from cortical neurons grown on a monolayer of astrocytes. Ligand for integrins alpha-8/beta-1, alpha-9/beta-1, alpha-V/beta-3 and alpha- V/beta-6. In tumors, stimulates angiogenesis by elongation, migration and sprouting of endothelial cells (PubMed:19884327). . This is the function of TNC (tenascin C, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000041982).