In humans, MHC is known as human leukocyte antigen (HLA)<\/strong>, and they are often used interchangeably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three types of MHCs, but we will only cover the first two:<\/p>\n\n\n\n MHC molecules have many important functions in and out of the body. The three main roles in which they participate in are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the most important function of MHC’s in the human body. They function to present antigens i.e on the surface of the cells, they help the cells to present antigens to the immune system to stimulate an immune response.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n A graft is an organ or tissue that is given from the donor to the recipient. If the MHC’s of the donor are different from that of the recipient, the recipient’s body will identify the graft as a foreign body and initiate an immune reaction against the graft.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n MHC’s are used in paternity tests as they are inherited in haplotypes<\/strong>; series of alleles or closely linked loci on the same chromosome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A woman with haplotypes A2B12\/A8B23 has a child with haplotypes A8B23\/A1B10.<\/p> Which of these two men is the father of the child?<\/p> Man A: A4B16\/A9B31<\/p> Man B: A1B10\/A4B10<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n As seen above, the child inherited haplotype A8B23 from the mother. This means that A1B10 had to have come from the father. Therefore Man B is the father of the child.<\/p>\n<\/span>Significance of MHCs<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Antigen Presentation<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Graft Rejection<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Paternity testing<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n