HLA-DP

HLA-DP is a protein/peptide-antigen receptor and graft-versus-host disease antigen that is composed of 2 subunits, DPα and DPβ.

Less is known about HLA-DP relative to HLA-DQ and HLA-DR but the sequencing of DP types and determination of more frequent haplotypes has progressed greatly within the last few years.

The immune system surveys antigens for foreign pathogens when presented by MHC receptors (like HLA-DP).

These T-cells, called T-helper (Th) cells, can promote the amplification of B-cells that recognize a different portion of the same antigen.

Alternatively, macrophages and other cytotoxic lymphocytes consume or destroy cells by apoptotic signaling and present self-antigens.

Self antigens, in the right context, form a regulatory T-cell population that protects self tissues from immune attack or autoimmunity.

This cluster is located at the proximal (centromeric) end of the HLA superlocus in human chromosome 6p21.31.