Unhelpful hygiene Nov 20, 2009
Significantly, indoor-housed pigs displayed increased expression of Type 1 interferon genes, Major Histocompatibility Complex class I and several chemokines. Gene Ontology and pathway analysis further confirmed these results. (BioMed Central)
Researchers Try to Solve the Mystery of HIV Carriers Who Don't Contract AIDS Nov 19, 2009
Host genes of the major histocompatibility complex (the genes that determine how mammals respond to pathogens) play a significant role in how the immune system responds to all pathogens. Several variants, such as the HLA B*5701 allele, have been associated with the pace of HIV disease progression in both controllers and "normals.". (Scientific American)
Birth Control Pills Affect Women's Taste in Men Oct 13, 2009
Hidden in a man s smell are clues about his major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which play an important role in immune system surveillance. Studies suggest that females prefer the scent of males whose MHC genes differ from their own, a preference that has probably evolved because it helps offspring survive: couples with different MHC genes are less likely to be related to each other than couples with similar genes are, and their children are born with more varied MHC profiles and thus... (Scientific American)
Gene Data Tool Advances Prospects For Personalized Medicine Oct 12, 2009
Type 1 diabetes is known to be highly heritable, with many risk-conferring genes concentrated in one region the major histocompatibility complex. For other complex diseases, such as psychiatric disorders, which do not have major-effect genes in concentrated locations, this approach might not be as effective. (Science Daily)
Disease Threat May Change How Frogs Mate Sep 1, 2009
These frogs could also be selecting mates based on their Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) type; a group of genes directly involved with the animal s immune system. As the common frog is generally thought to mate randomly, this is a major shift in the frogs mating behaviour. (Science Daily)
Potential Risk Identified In Transfusions Of Platelets Before Bone Marrow Transplant Aug 15, 2009
Donor and recipient were "matched" for their MHC (major histocompatibility complex) genes, the most important determinants of transplant compatibility. Platelets are already processed to remove white blood cells, with the aim of reducing the risk of immune-related problems. (Science Daily)
Microscopic 'Beads' Could Help Create 'Designer' Immune Cells That Ignore Transplanted Organs Jul 17, 2009
Human leukocyte antigen G, or HLA-G, actually is a member of a gene family called major histocompatibility complex that typically provokes an immune response. Like an errant child, HLA-G instead promotes tolerance, Dr. Horuzsko says. (Science Daily)
Gene clues to schizophrenia risk Jul 2, 2009
All three studies highlight genes found on Chromosome 6 in area known as the Major Histocompatibility Complex, which plays a role in the immune system, and in controlling when other genes are switched on and off. The researchers believe this might help explain why environmental factors also seem to affect risk for schizophrenia. (BBC News)
UCLA collaboration identifies immune system link to schizophrenia Jul 2, 2009
They found significant associations with genetic markers on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), a group of genes that controls several aspects of the immune response. Further, they discovered additional variations in two other genes, called NRGN and TCF4, which points to perturbation of pathways involved in brain development, memory and cognition. (EurekAlert!)
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Associated with HLA, IL12A, and IL12RB2 Variants Jun 16, 2009
Results We found significant associations between primary biliary cirrhosis and 13 loci across the HLA class II region; the HLA-DQB1 locus (encoding the major histocompatibility complex class II, DQ chain 1) had the strongest association (P=1. 78x10 19; odds ratio for patients vs. controls, 1. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Opposites Attract: How Genetics Influences Humans To Choose Their Mates May 26, 2009
Professor Maria da Gra;a Bicalho, head of the Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility Laboratory at the University of Parana, Brazil, says that her research had shown that people with diverse major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) were more likely to choose each other as mates than those whose MHCs were similar, and that this was likely to be an evolutionary strategy to ensure healthy reproduction ... Researchers have found that females often prefer mates with a dissimilar major... (Science Daily)
Opposite genes attract in search for a mate May 26, 2009
Many researchers have found evidence than animals are attracted to members of the opposite sex with differences in major histocompatibility complex or MHC, an immune system factor that also plays a role in having healthy offspring. Bicalho, who will present her findings at a conference of the European Society of Human Genetics in Vienna on Monday, said the team compared genetic data from 90 married couples with data from 152 randomly generated control couples. (MSNBC -- Health)
Immune exhaustion driven by antigen in chronic viral infection May 14, 2009
To recognize the presence of a viral infection, T cells must be presented with bits of viral protein in a molecular frame supplied by other cells in the body -- called MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I molecules. In mice infected by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), T cells became more or less exhausted depending on how much properly framed viral protein was available. (EurekAlert!)
Study reveals current multi-component vaccines may need reworking May 8, 2009
Once there, major histocompatibility complex (MHC} class II proteins inside the dendritic cells present peptides on the cell's surface for consideration by T cells gathered there. Activated T cells begin dividing, which greatly increase their number, until they become capable of the destroying the pathogen in question when exposed to high enough levels of the peptide representing it. (EurekAlert!)
Correlated evolution of nucleotide substitution rates and allelic variation in MHC-DRB lineages of primates Apr 13, 2009
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a key model of genetic polymorphism. Selection pressure by pathogens or other microevolutionary forces may result in a high rate of non-synonymous substitutions at the codons specifying the contact residues of the antigen binding sites (ABS), and the maintenance of extreme MHC allelic variation at the population/species level. (BioMed Central)
Odor Matching: The Scent Of Internet Dating Apr 13, 2009
mmerli explains: The genes of the MHC, the Major Histocompatibility Complex, carry the instructions for important building blocks of the immune system, the MHC proteins. These bind fragments of foreign proteins, for example following an infection, and pass them on to the body s own defence cells, which initiate a defence reaction. (Science Daily)
Amphibians may develop immunity to fatal fungus Apr 1, 2009
They point to several key immune-system componentsnotably, toll-like receptors and major histocompatibility complex moleculesthat most likely play a role in bridging the innate and the acquired immune systems, and urge researchers to undertake collaborative studies of the genetics of how these systems interact as Bd spreads. . (EurekAlert!)
Statistical Analysis Could Yield New Drug Target For Multiple Sclerosis Feb 18, 2009
The gene, HLA-DRB1, is part of the major histocompatibility complex, a large cluster of particularly complex genes evolved to help the immune system adaptively respond to foreign invaders that it has never before encountered. How it contributes to the disease remains a mystery, however. (Science Daily)
