MHC

MHC, or Major Histocompatibility Complex, is a group of genes that code for proteins crucial to the immune system. These proteins help your body recognize which cells belong to you and which are foreign, like bacteria or viruses. MHC proteins are found on the surface of most cells and act as a display system, showing immune cells snippets of internal proteins. If the immune system detects foreign bits, it triggers an attack to protect your body. In organ transplants, MHC compatibility is key to reducing rejection, since mismatched MHC proteins can cause the immune system to attack the transplanted tissue.