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HLA Genes

Meaning

HLA Genes, or Human Leukocyte Antigen genes, constitute a complex set of genes located on chromosome 6 that encode for proteins critical to the function of the adaptive immune system, serving as the body’s major histocompatibility complex (MHC). These proteins are expressed on the surface of most cells and are responsible for presenting antigens to T-lymphocytes, enabling the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self. In the hormonal health context, specific HLA alleles are often associated with an increased genetic susceptibility to various autoimmune endocrine disorders, such as Type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.