Speculations regarding the influence of the major histocompatibility complex (H-2) upon congenital craniofacial malformations in inbred and congenic strains of mice
Slavkin, H.C.
Birth Defects Original Article Series 15(8): 43-54
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0547-6844 PMID: 518986 Document Number: 146403
Investigations in different mammalian species have demonstrated a remarkable degree of analogy between distant mammalian species. All mammals possess a major histocompatilibity complex. The identified and postulated functions for the MHC appear to be similar among all mammalian species [14, 25]. One fascinating, but still unconfirmed possibility is that the MHC functions to regulate the immunobiology of normal pregnancy. It should be stressed at this point that much more knowledge is necessary to elucidate the mechanism of H-2-disease associations in mice and HLA-disease associations in man [25]. One explanation of the observed H-2 and HLA-disease associations is linkage disequilibrium. Data are available suggesting a tenuous HLA--cleft lip and/or palate association [34, 35] but the data are equivocal. The available data from congenic mice studies are considerably less equivocal and strongly suggest several important future approaches. Identification of the H-2a haplotype susceptibility and the H-2b resistance to steroid-induced clefting is a major advance in this complex field [36]. Available methods are sensitive, and newer, more precise methods are now in the offing. The renaissance in the field of congenital craniofacial malformations is rather exciting, especially the renewed awareness of interdisciplinary research toward ultimate prevention. Understandably, many physicians, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists, as well as allied biomedical health professionals investigating the heredity of congenital craniofacial malformations, are deeply interested in immunogenetics. In tandem, the biomedical scientific community (eg developmental biologists, molecular biologists, immunologists) wish to learn more about the complicated and often overlapping relationships between various clinical features of the diseases concerned. All are aware that our knowledge of this fascinating subject will not stand still; many are busy changing it.