The
HLA complex contains more than 220 genes, more than 40 of which encode leukocyte antigens.
(3,4) The breakthrough in unlocking this mystery came in 1958, when Jean Dausset discovered the human major histocompatibility complex (henceforth, referred to as the
HLA complex), which shed much needed light on transplant biology.
The
HLA complex has been reported to contribute to type 1 diabetes because HLA polymorphisms introduce genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes [28, 29].
The
HLA complex, located on chromosome 6, comprises the most polymorphic genes in humans [1] and plays a pivotal role in matching for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
The
HLA complex allows the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self (foreign) entities.