MHC class I

MHC class I
Schematic representation of MHC class I
Identifiers
Symbol	MHC class I
Membranome	63

MHC class I molecules are one of two primary classes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules (the other being MHC class II) and are found on the cell surface of all nucleated cells in the bodies of vertebrates.^[1][2] They also occur on platelets, but not on red blood cells. Their function is to display peptide fragments of proteins from within the cell to cytotoxic T cells; this will trigger an immediate response from the immune system against a particular non-self antigen displayed with the help of an MHC class I protein. Because MHC class I molecules present peptides derived from cytosolic proteins, the pathway of MHC class I presentation is often called cytosolic or endogenous pathway.^[3]

In humans, the HLAs corresponding to MHC class I are HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C.