This gene encodes a cytokine belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This cytokine is a ligand for TNFRSF8/CD30, a cell surface marker for Hodgkin lymphoma. It plays an inhibitory role in immunoglobulin class switching and exhibits pleiotropic effects on lymphoma cell lines, either enhancing proliferation or inducing cell death, suggesting a complex role in lymphoma pathophysiology.