HLA Overview

Human leukocyte antigen(s) - or HLA - refers to the human version of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. HLA genes are located on the p (short) arm of chromosome 6 in the MHC region, as represented schematically on the right (Figure 1). HLA nomenclature refers to the locus of the human genome (MHC) that encodes the HLA proteins, as well as to these encoded proteins. (Recall that chromosomes appear in pairs; alternatively, a trisomy is the presence of three instead of the usual pair.) The classes listed are referenced according to the current AMA Manual of Style.