HLA

noun

ˌāch-(ˌ)el-ˈā 

1

: the major histocompatibility complex in humans

2

: a genetic locus, gene, or antigen of HLA

—often used with one or more letters to designate a locus or with letters and a number to designate an allele at the locus or the antigen corresponding to the locus and allele

Examples of HLA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One out-of-state door knocker with HLA alleges that their quota was to hit 200 doors per day in the burning sun—a difficult total to hit even under more bearable weather. —Makena Kelly, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024

In those cases, doctors try to match patients with donors by typing a marker in their blood called human leukocyte antigen, or HLA. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 19 Sep. 2024

City Controller Kenneth Mejia and the Streets for All PAC, which backed the bus and bike lane measure known as HLA, gave to her campaign. —Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2024

The lens uses Sigma's High-response Linear Actuator (HLA), which proves both speedy and accurate. —PCMAG, 20 May 2024

Sigma uses its latest High-Response Linear Actuator (HLA) focus motor tech in the lens, which uses magnets to drive the focus group for a noticeably quicker response compared with lenses that use Stepping Motors (STM). —PCMAG, 16 May 2024

Bone-marrow transplants are most successful when donor and recipient share the same markers, known as HLA, which are protein tags our cells use to distinguish self from nonself. —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024

In the soon-to-start lupus study, Caribou intends to use HLA partial matching between patients and the donor T cells that could improve outcomes, the company said. —Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 5 Apr. 2024

Also, the changes in HLA genes only explain about 40% of the genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. —Amanda Gardner, Health, 20 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

human leukocyte antigen

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

HLA

noun

variants also HL-A

ˌā-(ˌ)chel-ˈā 

1

: the major histocompatibility complex in humans

2

: a genetic locus, gene, or antigen of the major histocompatibility complex in humans

—often used attributively

HLA antigens

HLA typing

—often used with one or more letters to designate a locus or with letters and a number to designate an allele at the locus or the antigen corresponding to the locus and allele

relationship … between HLA-B27 antigen and ankylosing spondylitis

—G. E. Ehrlich

Etymology

human leukocyte antigen