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DisneyDee67 t1_j4at7tm wrote

Reply to comment by CrateDane in Is there physical differences between blood types? by terrip_t1

That is absolutely wrong. The immune system HAS to recognize self in order to attack the non-self. It does so mostly through two self-identification molecules (Human leukocyte antigens [HLA], and the major histocompatibility complex [MHC]). When the immune system doesn’t recognize the body’s own cells you get autoimmune diseases.

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CrateDane t1_j4atysl wrote

We're also talking about humoral immunity, which relies on antibodies. There is no self recognition involved there. As for cell-mediated immunity, it's true that the self MHC is part of what's required for recognition, but MHC alone is not sufficient - you need the foreign antigen loaded into the self MHC for recognition.

As for MHC and HLA, they are not two different molecules. MHCs are HLAs.

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