Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)
A group of proteins which help the immune system spot the differences between foreign invaders and the body’s own tissue.
A group of proteins which help the immune system spot the differences between foreign invaders and the body’s own tissue.
Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) play an important part in the body's immune response to foreign substances. They make up a person’s tissue type, which varies from person to person.
In MS, the immune system fails to recognise the foreign invaders and the body’s tissue, therefore resulting in attacks on the myelin. HLA genes have been found to be associated with the risk of developing MS.
References:
MS Trust. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Available https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/human-leukocyte-antigen-hla. Accessed May 2020