Description:
The chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or B complex, consists of several clusters of highly polymorphic genes. Like their mammalian counterparts, the avian MHC exerts genetic influence over a variety of important biological functions such as immune response, disease resistance, growth and development, aging, and reproduction. Chicken MHC Class II genes, also known as the B-L subregion, of the chicken MHC encode cell surface glycoproteins that are homologous to mammalian Class II antigens. B-L antigens are structurally similar to mammalian Class II molecules in that they are noncovalently bound dimers of one heavy chain and one light chain. MHC Class II is primarily expressed on B cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs).