Describe the function of major histocompatibilitycomplex (MHC) molecules in immunity.
Describe the function of major histocompatibility
complex (MHC) molecules in immunity.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a large gene cluster on vertebrate DNA that codes for cell surface proteins required by the adaptive immune system. MHC molecules are the name for these cell surface proteins.
MHC is a tissue-antigen that facilitates the immune system (specifically T cells) to recognise and tolerate themselves and attack when another non-self antigen is present (autorecognition). MHC also acted as a chaperone for intracellular peptides complexed with MHCs and introduced potential foreign antigens to T cell receptors (TCRs). MHC interacts with TCR and its co-receptors to improve antigen-binding affinity and specificity, as well as signal transduction effectiveness, for the TCR-antigen interaction.
The MHC-peptide complex is essentially an auto-antigen/alloantigen complex. T cells should tolerate the auto-antigen after binding but activate when exposed to the alloantigen.
T lymphocytes have both T cell receptors and CD4/CD8 co-receptors. The antigen epitope stored in the peptide-binding groove of the MHC molecule interacts with the TCR's variable Ig-like domain to activate T cells.
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