ZC3H12A, also known as MCPIP, is an essential member of a family of novel CCCH-zinc finger proteins that regulate macrophage activation and may be involved in host immunity and inflammatory diseases. ZC3H12A has RNase activity that prevents some immune disorders by directly affecting the mRNA stability of interleukins such as IL-6 and IL12p40. Mice lacking the ZC3H12A gene suffered from severe anemia, and most dies within 12 weeks. Overexpression of ZC3H12A causes ER stress and induces a number of genes involved in apoptosis and autophagy, including JNK, PUMA, and beclin-1 in cardiac myoblasts, leading to cell death. ZC3H12A can also induce adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in the absence of PPAPgamma, demonstrating the complex roles ZC3H12A plays.