“HLA-C: evolution, epigenetics, and pathological implications in the major histocompatibility complex”

The implications of intergenic polymorphism for major histocompatibility complex evolution.

A systematic survey of six intergenic regions flanking the human HLA-B locus in eight haplotypes reveals the regions to be up to 20 times more polymorphic than the reported average degree of human neutral polymorphism. Furthermore, the extent of polymorphism is directly related to the proximity to the HLA-B locus. Apparently linkage to HLA-B locus alleles, which are under balancing selection, m...

The Evolution of Mating Preferences and Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes.

House mice prefer mates genetically dissimilar at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The highly polymorphic MHC genes control immunological self/nonself recognition; therefore, this mating preference may function to provide "good genes" for an individual's offspring. However, the evidence for MHC-dependent mating preferences is controversial, and its function remains unclear. Here we p...

Cd1, Tuberculosis, and the Evolution of Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecules

Although the role of class I and class II MHC in adaptive immunity against microbial pathogens is clear, the participation of nonpolymorphic MHC molecules in host defense remains less well defined. Roles for murine class I MHC molecule Qa-2 and class Ib molecule H2-M3 have been suggested (1–3), and accumulating data have prompted speculation that CD1 family members may be important in immunity ...

The Evolution of Major Histocompatibility Complex in Birds

The major histocompatibility complex.

The major histocompatibility complex on the sixth chromosome controls expression of a complex series of cell surface antigens which comprise the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. These markers, beyond their importance in human organ transplantation, have been demonstrated to occur with an increased prevalence in certain disease states. The group of conditions showing the closest association...