MIAAs
MIAAs is an acronym that can refer to several concepts, depending on the field. In biomedical literature, the most commonly cited usage describes minor antigenic alleles (MIAAs), a class of polymorphic peptides derived from normal genes. These peptides are processed and presented by HLA class I or class II molecules on the surface of cells. Differences in MIAA sequences between donor and recipient can be recognized by T cells, potentially triggering alloimmune responses after transplantation. MIAA disparities contribute to graft-versus-host disease and can influence graft-versus-leukemia effects. Mapping MIAAs, predicting their HLA binding, and assessing their tissue distribution are active research areas that aim to improve donor selection, conditioning, and post-transplant therapies. Immunogenetic studies of MIAAs also explore why some antigenic differences provoke strong responses in some patients but not others, and how to mitigate adverse effects while preserving beneficial anti-tumor immunity.
In other disciplines, MIAAs may stand for different terms, depending on context, institution, or field-specific usage.