A man recently received a kidney transplant; however, his body has rejected this new organ. The rejection is likely due to the presence of MHC proteins on the cell surfaces of the donor kidney.

Question

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MHC proteins, also known as human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), are used by the immune system to recognize self vs. non-self cells. If the MHC proteins on the transplanted kidney are too different from the recipient's own MHC proteins, the immune system may mount an attack against the new organ, resulting in rejection.

A Man Recently Received a Kidney Transplant; However, His Body