 The expression can also be induced by mechanical stimuli in vascular smooth muscle cells, and is found to be correlated with proteoglycan synthesis and aggregation.TSG-6 has been shown to modulate macrophage plasticity and signal the transition of LPS-treated macrophages from pro- to anti-inflammatory phenotype.TSG-6 also interacts with a number of matrix associated molecules such as aggrecan, versican, thrombospondin (1&2), pentraxin-3 and fibronectin.