| MHC | The set of gene loci specifying major histocompatibility antigens, for example HLA in man, H 2 in mice, RLA in rabbits, RT 1 in rats, DLA in dogs, SLA in pigs, etc. Acronym: MHC (18 Nov 1997) |
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| MHC class I protein | <protein> The antigen-presenting molecule found on all nucleated vertebrate cells. (09 Oct 1997) |
| MHC class II protein | <protein> The antigen-presenting molecule found primarily on macrophages and B lymphocytes. (09 Oct 1997) |
| MHC restriction | <immunology> Restriction on interaction between cells of the immune system because of the requirement to recognise foreign antigen is association with MHC antigens (major histocompatibility antigens). Thus, cytotoxic T-cells will only kill virally infected cells that have the same Class I antigens as themselves, whereas helper T-cells respond to foreign antigen associated with Class II antigens. (18 Nov 1997) |
| genes, MHC class I | Genetic loci in the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex which encode polymorphic characteristics not related to immune responsiveness or complement activity, e.g., b loci (chicken), dla (dog), gpla (guinea pig), h-2 (mouse), rt-1 (rat), HLA-a, -b, and -c class I genes of man. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| genes, MHC class II | Genetic loci in the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex that encode polymorphic products which control the immune response to specific antigens. The genes are found in the HLA-d region in humans and in the I region in mice. (12 Dec 1998) |