Membrane cofactor protein (CD46)

Acts as a cofactor for complement factor I, a serine protease which protects autologous cells from complement- mediated injury by cleaving C3b and C4b deposited on host tissue. May be involved in the combination of the spermatozoa with the oocyte during fertilization.

Also acts as a costimulatory factor for T- cells which induces the differentiation of CD4+ to T-regulatory 1 cells. T-regulatory 1 cells suppress immune responses by secreting interleukin-10, and therefore are thought to prevent autoimmunity.