Good copy, bad copy: choosing animal models for HLA-linked diseases.
Recent large-scale sequencing and comparative analyses of the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) provide a novel view of this long-studied region. The main insight is that even though Mhcs are defined by the presence of the Mhc class I and II genes, the regions encoding class I/II histocompatibility antigens are the least conserved among the species; hence the difficulty of modeling the human class I/II-linked diseases. Fortunately, the majority of the genes in the Mhc, the non-class I/II genes, are conserved among the investigated mammals. The full set of Mhc genes in their evolutionary context presents new possibilities to study Mhc-linked diseases by allowing systematic evaluation of the various experimental animals and approaches.
Kumánovics
Attila
A
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. attila.kumanovics@path.utah.edu
Fischer Lindahl
Kirsten
K
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D006680:HLA Antigens