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. 1975 Jun 28;1(7922):1406-9.
doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)92610-0.

A biological role for the major histocompatibility antigens

P C Doherty, R M Zinkernagel

A biological role for the major histocompatibility antigens

P C Doherty et al. Lancet. .

Abstract

A central function of the major histo-compatibility (H) antigens may be to signal changes in self to the immune system. Virus-induced modification of strong transplantation antigens apparently results in recognition by thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells), with subsequent clonal expansion and immune elimination of cells bearing non-self determinants. The extreme genetic polymorphism found in the major H antigen systems of higher vertebrates may reflect evolutionary pressure exerted by this immunological surveillance mechanism.

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