May act as a physical homophilic interaction molecule between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) at the mucosal epithelium for providing immunological barrier as a first line of defense against mucosal infection. Plays a role in embryonic stem cells proliferation and differentiation. Up-regulates the expression of FABP5, MYC and cyclins A and E. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:15195135, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15922867, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19785009, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20064925}. This is the function of ENSG00000119888 (EPCAM, epithelial cell adhesion molecule).