Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Overview

The HLA complex is located within the 6p21.3 region on the short arm of human chromosome 6 and contains more than 220 genes of diverse function. Many of the genes encode proteins of the immune system. The naming of new HLA genes and allele sequences and their quality control is the responsibility of the WHO Nomenclature Committee for Factors of the HLA System, which first met in 1968, and laid down the criteria for successive meetings. This committee meets regularly to discuss issues of nomenclature and has published 19 major reports documenting firstly the HLA antigens and more recently the genes and alleles. The standardization of HLA antigenic specifications has been controlled by the exchange of typing reagents and cells in the International Histocompatibility Workshops. See presentation below for a basic understanding of HLA and what are the current procedures available for examining HLA types.