Uses of the term 'HLA'

The term 'HLA' is used in these various contexts:

HLA 

The term is now considered an acronym for Human Leukocyte Antigen. Rose Payne and Walter Bodmer originally called it 'LA' and Dausset and Invanyi called it 'Hu-1'. Paul Terasaki, with his compromising spirit, persuaded the immunogenetics community to merge both names into 'HLA'.

HLA system 

Collection of HLA genes.

HLA gene

Gene coding for an HLA molecule.

HLA molecule

Immunoglobulin-like glycoproteins with the main function of presenting peptides to T lymphocytes. HLA molecules are the ligands of T-cell receptors.

HLA region

Segment of the short arm of chromosome 6 that includes the HLA system. Apart from the HLA genes, this segment includes many other genes, some involved in peptide presentation by HLA molecules, others involved in other immune functions, and other not involved in immune functions at all.

HLA class I

Cluster of genes that code for the class I HLA molecules, which present peptides to CD8 T lymphocytes.

HLA class II

Cluster of genes that code for the class II HLA molecules, which present peptides to CD4 T lymphocytes.

HLA class III

Cluster of genes located between class I and class II, not related to HLA molecules.

'MHC', for major histocompatibility complex, is a term used to refer to the cluster of genes in all vertebrates that correspond to the HLA in humans. 'Human MHC' and 'HLA' are equivalent terms. Using the term 'MHC' in another sense is improper and promotes obfuscation.

See also

• What are genes?
• What are alleles?
• Transplantation
  • Transplantation/Haematopoietic Stem Cell
  • Transplantation/Solid Organ
  • Transplantation/The HLA System and HLA Typing
  • Transplantation/Internet Resources
• CWD classification of HLA alleles

HLA-A alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/A

HLA-B alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/B

HLA-C alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/C

HLA-DRB1 alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/DRB1

HLA-DRB345 alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/DRB3
Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/DRB4
Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/DRB5

HLA-DQB1 alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/DQB1

HLA-DQA1 alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/DQA1

HLA-DPB1 alleles (Allotypes)

Special:PrefixIndex/Genetics/Human Leukocyte Antigen/DPB1