MHC (ראשי תיבות באנגלית: Major Histocompatibility Complex, בתרגום חופשי: "מערך ראשי של התאמה רקמתית") הינו שמה של קבוצת גנים הנמצאת בגנום של רוב החולייתנים, ובהם האדם, ואשר מקודדת חלבונים בעלי חשיבות עליונה למערכת החיסון.

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See major histocompatability complex.

Major Histocompatibility Complex H-2 complex in mice, HLA complex in humans.

(MHC): A genetic complex of vertebrates consisting of around 100 genes including the extremely polymorphic cell surface molecules called HLA in humans and H-2 in mice. These molecules provide an immunological marker for selfness and a genetic self-identity to the individual. This information is used in mate choice, union of gametes, maintenance of pregnancy, and immune response against nonself (including a transplanted graft). These molecules are the most polymorphic ones in vertebrates. The polymorphism arises from point mutations not at an unusually higher rate than other genes, and mainly from interallelic gene conversion events. The polymorphism is maintained through pathogen and non-pathogen driven mechanisms via heterozygous advantage (overdominant selection) and negative frequency dependent selection. A 3.6 Mb long human MHC haplotype and the 92 kb chicken MHC have been totally sequenced (see Nature 1999(Oct 28);401:921-925).