title: Minors come of age: Minor histocompatibility antigens and graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Minor histocompatibility antigens (miHA) are responsible for the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease in the setting of a major histocompatibility complex matched sibling allogeneic stem cell transplantation. These miHA are peptide fragments that are associated with major histocompatibility complex class I or class II antigens. Elegant experiments have led to the molecular characterization of these antigens. Efforts to prevent graft-versus-host disease could be targeted through this pathway by matching for these miHA or by preventing antigen recognition. Alternatively, these miHA could be exploited as targets for a more potent graft-versus-malignancy effect. This area of miHA promises to continue to be an exciting area of continued research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Immunology, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. chao0002@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Nelson J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D020350:Graft vs Tumor Effect / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D010455:Peptides