sentences:  The protein encoded by this gene is involved in the acute-phase immunologic response to gram-negative bacterial infections.Gram-negative bacteria contain a glycolipid, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on their outer cell wall.Together with bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI), the encoded protein binds LPS and interacts with the CD14 receptor, probably playing a role in regulating LPS-dependent monocyte responses.