May play a role in local mechanisms of mucosal immunity and seems to have a pro-inflammatory function. May play a role in inflammatory bowel disease. Activates STAT1 and STAT3, MAPK1/3 (ERK1/2), JUN and AKT. Induces expression of SOCS3, TNF and IL-8, secretion of IL-8 and IL-10 and surface expression of ICAM1. Decreases proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells. Is inhibited by heparin. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:14764663, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15178681, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18483078}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000111536 (IL26, interleukin 26).