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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 In the last five years, researchers have identified a deeper level within HLA called eplet matching that seems to make a big difference. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

human leukocyte antigen

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of HLA was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near HLA

Cite this Entry

“HLA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HLA. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

HLA

noun
variants also HL-A
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 spondylitisG. E. Ehrlich
Etymology

human leukocyte antigen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!