The Major Histocompatibility Complex — Genetics and Biology

Abstract

(Second of Three Parts)The LD StoryRejection of an allograft is thought to involve lymphocyte-mediated immune response against non-self MHC antigens. As such, several tests have been proposed that use the biologic response of lymphocytes to foreign antigens as a measure of histocompatibility. We shall limit our discussion to two tests: the mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) assays.The MLC^27,28 test provided an in vitro model in which lymphocytes were used both as the cells that could respond to foreign antigens and as the stimulators carrying those antigens. Thus, lymphocytes of a potential recipient (e.g., A) . . .