The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is not a single antigen, but is rather a group of proteins that are located on the surface of white blood cells. These proteins have a pivotal role in the body's immune response to foreign material. Because the HLA is...

After George Snell (1903-1996) discovered histocompatibility (tissue-compatibility) genes in mice, and showed that they were physically linked in the major histocompatibility complex ( MHC), the question arose if an MHC also existed in human beings....

see immune...

The human leukocyte antigen system (HLA) is the name of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This group of genes resides on chromosome 6, and encodes cell-surface antigen-presenting proteins and many other genes. The major HLA antigens are...

Finding a compatible kidney donor may become a bit easier within the next few years for thousands of people waiting for transplants in the US. To increase the likelihood of a successful transplant, donor and recipient must have the same blood type and...

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder associated with high CD4+cell activity, without any detectable pathogen. Clustering in families occurs, and the existence of a genetic predisposition to sarcoidosis is widely accepted. There are differences among different ethnic groups. Methods: We studied...