Major histocompatibility complex

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The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a group of approximately 150 connected genes situated on human chromosome 6.[1] The two MHC genes, class I and class II, are relevant to infection due to their role in antigen presentation. The majority of individuals in the human population can synthesize six alternative class I molecules and the same number of different class II molecules.[1] MHC class I and class II molecules vary between individuals which, due to their role in antigen presentation, means different people present antigens differently.[1] This difference between immune systems, producing a variation in antigen presentation dependent on the individual, results in contrasting vulnerability to different pathogens.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Male, D (2007). Immunology. Milton Keynes, The Open University/Milton Keynes, The Open University. ISBN 978-0749256579.