The major histocompatibility complex and inflammation

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is of major medical interest bec ause of its contribution to transplant rejection and to variation among ind ividuals in susceptibility to a variety of autoimmune disorders. In additio n to its role in influencing the propensity for known autoimmune diseases, the MHC contains genes contributing to several other hereditary disorders t hat are not autoimmune in nature or in which the role of autoimmunity is un certain. Recently, a cluster of genes encoding inflammation-related protein s were found, and our review focuses on these findings and their clinical r elevance.