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CD46 is an important regulator of the complement system by preventing unwanted deposition of the complement activation products and opsonins C3b/C4b onto self-tissue. Recently, intracellular signals mediated by CD46 activation on several distinct human cell types have demonstrated that CD46 also plays decisive roles in immuneregulation. The growing recognition of CD46 as key regulator in several vital biological processes, led to increased demand in sensitive methods for monitoring CD46 expression and changes thereof on cells and in tissues. Here we describe a method, which allows for studying CD46 expression on the surface of cells using specific antibodies in combination with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis.

CD59 is the single regulator of the terminal complement pathway. It has been implicated in disease such as Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PMH) and cancer. Expression of CD59 protects normal and malignant cells from the cytotoxic potential of the complement system. Here we describe a method, which allows for studying its expression on the surface of cells.