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MHC

American  
  1. major histocompatibility complex: (in mammals) a group of genes located next to or near each other on a specific chromosome, the sixth in humans, most of which encode glycoproteins of highly variable shapes that are expressed on almost all cell surfaces: it plays the dominant role in distinguishing one individual's cells from another's and in determining the histocompatibility of any two individuals.


MHC British  

abbreviation

  1. major histocompatibility complex; a series of genes located on chromosome 6 that code for antigens. They are important in determining histocompatibility

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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Using advanced transcriptomic analyses and functional studies in both mouse models and human samples, the researchers examined what happens when cancer cells lose MHC I expression.

From Science Daily Jun. 4, 2026

The results indicate that lowering MHC I expression can increase the ability of CD4+ T cells to destroy target cells, whether those cells are cancerous or allogeneic.

From Science Daily Jun. 4, 2026

In turn, elevated levels of MHC made the tumor cells more visible to specialized immune cells called "killer" T cells, which recognize and eliminate cancer cells.

From Science Daily Sep. 21, 2023

MHC class II molecules are found on cells that present antigens.

From Textbooks Jan. 1, 2015

MHC molecules reside on cell membranes and contain a variable region.

From Textbooks Jan. 1, 2015

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