Human leukocyte antigen

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Human leukocyte antigen

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) /ˈhjuːmən ˈluːkəsaɪt ˈæntɪdʒən/ is a group of proteins that are present on the surface of all cells in a human body and are used by the immune system to recognize foreign cells such as viruses and bacteria. The term "HLA" is also used to refer to the gene complex that encodes these proteins.

Etymology

The term "leukocyte" is derived from the Greek words "leukos" (λευκός), meaning "white", and "kytos" (κύτος), meaning "cell". The term "antigen" is derived from the Greek words "anti" (ἀντί), meaning "against", and "gen" (γεν), meaning "produce". The term "human leukocyte antigen" therefore refers to a protein produced by white blood cells in humans that acts against foreign substances.

Related terms

  • Antigen: A substance that triggers an immune response when introduced into the body.
  • Leukocyte: A type of blood cell that is involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders.
  • Immune system: A complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against harmful invaders.
  • Gene: A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
  • Protein: A large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order.

See also

External links

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