title: Genetics of graft-versus-host disease: the major histocompatibility complex.
abstract: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a potentially life-threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Many genes are presumed to be involved in GVHD, but the best characterized genetic system is that of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) located on chromosome 6. Among the hundreds of genes located within the MHC region, the best known and characterized are the classical HLA genes, HLA-A, C, B, DRB1, DQB1, and DPB1. They play a fundamental role in T cell immune responses, and HLA-A, C, and B also function as ligands for the natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors involved in innate immunity. This review highlights the state-of-the art in the field of histocompatibility and immunogenetics of the MHC with respect to genetic risk factors for GVHD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, United States. epetersd@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Effie W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Petersdorf
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006239:Haplotypes; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006648:Histocompatibility / Q000235:genetics; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006680:HLA Antigens; D054340:Receptors, KIR