A bone marrow transplant may not be appropriate from a given donor (Jane) to a given recipient (Jane's cousin Bob), even though Jane has previously given blood for one of Bob's needed transfusions, because ________.
A) Jane's major histocompatibility (MHC) proteins may not be a match
B) a blood-type match is less stringent than a match required for transplant because blood is more tolerant of change
C) Jane is heterozygous for MHC genes but Bob is not
D) Jane's MHC class II genes are not expressed in bone marrow
E) Bob's immune response is impaired

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A bone marrow transplant requires a close match in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, which play a key role in determining whether a recipient's immune system will recognize transplanted cells as self or non-self. While a blood type match is important for transfusions, it is less stringent than the match required for a bone marrow transplant. Additionally, the fact that Jane is heterozygous for MHC genes while Bob is not may create potential mismatches. The expression of MHC class II genes in bone marrow does not affect the match, as these genes typically play a role in presenting antigens to immune cells rather than directly affecting compatibility. The immune response of the recipient is also unrelated to the suitability of a particular donor.

A Bone Marrow Transplant May Not Be Appropriate from a Given