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The traditional and a new version of the mouse H–2 complex

Nature volume 291, pages 455–460 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

The H–2 complex has traditionally been interpreted as a maze of regions, subregions and loci coding for different traits. The two main theses presented here are, first, that a single H–2 locus is pleiomorphic in that it controls several functions such as allograft rejection, cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity, mixed lymphocyte reaction, immune response, immune suppression and restriction of T-cell specificity; and second, that the physiological f unction of the H–2 complex is to guide T lymphocytes in theirfunction of distinguishing self from non-self, and that all other H–2-controlled traits are artificial derivatives of this basic function. These two theses lead to a new, simplified interpretation of the H–2 complex.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Biologie, Abteilung Immungenetik, Corrensstrasse 42, 7400, Tübingen, FRG

    Jan Klein, Antonio JuretiĆ, Constantin N. Baxevanis & Zoltan A. Nagy

  2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Yugoslavia

    Antonio JuretiĆ

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  1. Jan Klein
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  2. Antonio JuretiĆ
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  3. Constantin N. Baxevanis
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  4. Zoltan A. Nagy
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Klein, J., JuretiĆ, A., Baxevanis, C. et al. The traditional and a new version of the mouse H–2 complex. Nature 291, 455–460 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291455a0

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