Enables leukemia inhibitory factor receptor binding activity. Involved in several processes, including negative regulation of angiogenesis; positive regulation of corticotropin secretion; and transdifferentiation. Located in extracellular space. Biomarker of brain ischemia and congestive heart failure. Orthologous to human LIF (LIF interleukin 6 family cytokine). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]