Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a group of genes coding for cell-surface proteins (called HLA in humans) crucial for the immune system to distinguish “self” from “non-self.” This causes foreign antigens (like from viruses or bacteria) as T-cells to trigger immune responses and play a role in transplant rejection due to extreme genetic diversity (polymorphism) among individuals.