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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood
Published on: November 21, 2014
Gene conversion may be responsible for the generation of the alloreactive repertoire
G Ritzel1, S A McCarthy, A Fotedar
1Department of Immunology and MRC Group on Immunoregulation, 845-E Medical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 2H7.
Abstract:
Meiotic gene conversion in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) appears to be involved in the generation of MHC polymorphism. Here the authors suggest that mitotic gene conversion of MHC may generate somatic variants which sensitize the immune system. This could lead to an MHC-skewed repertoire with a high background alloreactive potential crossreacting with foreign antigens in the context of self MHC. Allodeterminant-bearing autologous cells may be deleted by the immune cells, thereby maintaining the observed genotype/phenotype correlation.
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