CD46, His, Canine

CD46 was discovered in 1986 during a search for novel C3b-binding proteins. CD46 is expressed ubiquitously and functions as a co-factor in the factor I-mediated proteolytic cleavage of C3b and C4b. Its vital role in preventing complement deposition on host tissue is underpinned by the fact that deficiency of CD46 is a predisposing factor for numerous disease conditions arising from complement-mediated 'self-attack'.