Human leucocyte antigen in the context of "Celiac disease"

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⭐ Core Definition: Human leucocyte antigen

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system is a complex of genes on chromosome 6 in humans that encode cell-surface proteins responsible for regulation of the immune system. The HLA system is also known as the human version of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) found in many animals.

Specific HLA genes may be linked to autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes, and celiac disease. The HLA gene complex resides on a 3 Mbp stretch within chromosome 6, p-arm at 21.3. HLA genes are highly polymorphic, which means that they have many different alleles, allowing them to fine-tune the adaptive immune system. The proteins encoded by certain genes are also known as antigens, as a result of their historic discovery as factors in organ transplants.

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Human leucocyte antigen in the context of Molecular diagnostics

Molecular diagnostics is a collection of techniques used to analyze biological markers in the genome and proteome, and how their cells express their genes as proteins, applying molecular biology to medical testing. In medicine the technique is used to diagnose and monitor disease, detect risk, and decide which therapies will work best for individual patients, and in agricultural biosecurity similarly to monitor crop- and livestock disease, estimate risk, and decide what quarantine measures must be taken.

By analysing the specifics of the patient and their disease, molecular diagnostics offers the prospect of personalised medicine.These tests are useful in a range of medical specialties, including infectious disease, oncology, human leucocyte antigen typing (which investigates and predicts immune function), coagulation, and pharmacogenomics—the genetic prediction of which drugs will work best. They overlap with clinical chemistry (medical tests on bodily fluids).

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Molecular diagnostics
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Gene → Chromosome 6 → Membrane protein → Immune system → Major histocompatibility complex → Autoimmune disease → Type I diabetes → Celiac disease → Base pair → Chromosome 6 (human) → Genetic polymorphism → Alleles → Adaptive immune system → Antigen → History and naming of human leukocyte antigens → Organ transplant →