• Question: What type of molecules help the immune system identify components of the body?

    Asked by Aherrera11 to Max, Lizzie on 6 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Max Jamilly

      Max Jamilly answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      Cool question! All cells display markers on the outside of their cell membranes. The markers say, “I’m safe – don’t eat me!” The most well-known example of this is called MHC, the major histocompatibility complex. Some cancer cells lose the MHC and are killed by the immune system. MHC is a big problem for organ transplants. The body recognises that a transplanted organ is foreign and will try to attack it unless we use immunosuppressant drugs.

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