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.

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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

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Example Sentences

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

This accumulation of succinate led to expression of immune genes in the nucleus and increased the levels of a protein called MHC on the surface of the tumor.

From Science Daily • Sep. 21, 2023

The APCs express MHC class II on their surfaces, and when combined with a foreign antigen, these complexes signal an invader.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Unhealthy cells, whether infected or cancerous, display an altered MHC class I complement on their cell surfaces.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Lymphocytes of the adaptive immune response must interact with antigen-embedded MHC class II molecules to mature into functional immune cells.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013