MHC regulation of immune responses.
The major histocompatibility complex is a group of complex genes situated on the short arm of chromosome 6 in humans. They play an important role in the regulation of the immune response. Autoimmune blistering disease provides an ideal model for studying the role of MHC in autoimmunity. The diseases are organ specific, and in some of them the relevant antigen has been cloned and sequenced. Such information on the antigen will help further define the interactions of the Ag, MHC, and TCR. Use of family studies hopefully will define and localize susceptibility alleles, so that any genetic susceptibility can be identified at the molecular level. It is from these molecular perspectives that molecular therapies could be assigned to restore the immune system.
Hameed
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Center for Blood Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ahmed
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AR
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology