The complement inhibitor CD59 and the lymphocyte function-associated antigen-3 (LFA-3, CD58) genes possess functional binding sites for the p53 tumor suppressor protein.

p53 is an oncosuppressor protein, which acts via transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms. The transcriptional function of p53 is mediated by specific responsive elements. In the present study we found active responsive elements, specific for the p53 within the 5'flanking region and within the first intron of the gene encoding for the CD59 membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis, and within the first intron of the gene encoding for the CD58 membrane protein (LFA-3). The results suggest that p53 may enhance the transcription of both CD59 and CD58 and imply a novel role for p53 as a direct regulator of the immune response.