CD59, the major inhibitor of the complement membrane attack complex, is an 18–20 kDa glycoprotein, linked to the membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor. It interacts with complement components C8 and C9 during assembly of the membrane attack complex (MAC) and inhibits C9 polymerization, thus preventing the formation of MAC [Lehto T and Meri S. 1993;Rollins SA et al 1991]