Prof.

Ileana Constantinescu
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Immunogenetics a part of genetics which studies the complexity of immune processes, concerning defense and integrity of the host. MHC encodes a group of highly diverse cell surface proteins. There are two types of MHC molecules class I and class II molecules. !olymorphism each MHC locus can express any one of hundreds of different molecules. Its genes are codominantly expressed.
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The structure of HLA class I molecules

The structure of HLA class II molecules

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HLA Genetics
H'( alleles set found on one chromosome represents a haplotype. )ach individual inherits two MHC haplotypes from each parent and thus he has two alleles for each gene. These alleles are codominantly expressed. The inheritence of MHC genes follows the Mendel segregation rules.

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Mother

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HLA-DRB1*13
( group of alleles which encode the ,-1# antigen, i.e. there &" ,-.1/1# alleles 1#01 to 1#&"

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HLA-DRB1*1301
A specific allele

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HLA-DRB1*13010102
(n allele which contains a mutation outside the coding region

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HLA-DRB1*1301N
A null allele N

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HLA-DRB1*13010102N
A null allele N !ic! contains a "utation outsi#e t!e co#in$ re$ion

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HLA-DRB1*1301L
' indicated that the allele is low expressed at the cell surface

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HLA-DRB1*1301%
3 indicated that the alleles is secreted 4ut not sta4le at the cell surface, find at solu4le form

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HLA-DRB1*1301C
C indicated that the allele is present in the cytoplasm 4ut not at the cell surface

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Host immune response against allograft

,irect antigen presentation The response of recipient T cells to intact MHC5peptide complexes on (!Cs from a graft is called #irect alloreco$nition. That is (!Cs in the graft directly present alloantigens 6the foreign MHC molecules7 for recognition 4y alloreactive T cells. ( recipient8s T cells can also react to donor MHC peptides presented on the recipient8s own (!Cs. This pathway is called in#irect alloreco$nition.
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Clinical signification
3uccessful transplantation relies upon the immunologic compati4ility of recipients and their organ donor. This compati4ility depends on 4oth, the extent of matching of the tissue types 6H'( types7 of donor and recipient and the a4sence of any pre9existing anti4ody reactivity of the recipient with the donor. .oth these factors influence the degree of immunosuppression re:uired to prevent re;ection of the graft 4y the recipient. The <ey element to successful transplantation is the a4ility to correctly identify the tissue types of recipients and donors and to predict whether a graft is li<ely to 4e re;ected 6 host versus graft disease7 or in the case of a .MT whether the graft will attac< the recipient 6 graft versus host disease =vH,7
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