Human Membrane Co Factor Protein, MCP ELI

Acts as a cofactor for complement factor I, a serine protease which protects autologous cells against complement-mediated injury by cleaving C3b and C4b deposited on host tissue.

May be involved in the fusion of the spermatozoa with the oocyte during fertilization.

Also acts as a costimulatory factor for T-cells which induces the differentiation of CD4+ into T-regulatory 1 cells.

T-regulatory 1 cells suppress immune responses by secreting interleukin-10, and therefore are thought to prevent autoimmunity.

(Microbial infection) A number of viral and bacterial pathogens seem to bind MCP in order to exploit its immune regulation property and directly induce an immunosuppressive phenotype in T-cells.

(Microbial infection) Acts as a receptor for Adenovirus subgroup B2 and Ad3.

(Microbial infection) Acts as a receptor for cultured Measles virus.

(Microbial infection) Acts as a receptor for Herpesvirus 6/HHV-6.

(Microbial infection) May act as a receptor for pathogenic bacteria Neisseria and Streptococcus pyogenes (PubMed: 7708671, PubMed: 9379894, PubMed: 11260136, PubMed: 11971006).