MANF is a neurotrophic factor found mainly in central nervous tissues where it may remain localized to the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus, or secreted. It has been shown that MANF plays an important role in protecting cells against tunicamycin and thapsigargin -induced cell death. Without MANF, cells become increasingly vulnerable to the aforementioned drugs. Also, MANF is structurally homologous to CDNF.