Adenoviral hexon protein-derived peptide-MHC complex (Adv-hexon-pMHC)

Adenoviral hexon-derived peptides presented on MHC class I and II molecules serve as the primary immunological signatures for the detection and elimination of adenovirus-infected cells by the host immune system (Leen et al., 2006, Blood). The hexon protein is the major structural component of the adenoviral capsid and contains highly conserved sequences that are processed into short peptide fragments for presentation (UniProt P03277). MHC class I-presented peptides are recognized by CD8+ T cells, triggering direct lysis of the infected cell, while MHC class II-presented peptides activate CD4+ T cells to produce antiviral cytokines like IFN-gamma (Feuchtinger et al., 2008, British Journal of Haematology). This target is the basis for adoptive T-cell therapies, such as Posoleucel (ALVR106), which utilize donor-derived T cells specific to these hexon epitopes to treat refractory infections in immunocompromised patients (Allovir, 2023). The therapeutic efficacy of targeting these complexes depends heavily on the HLA-matching between the T-cell product and the patient's infected cells. Challenges include potential graft-versus-host disease and the requirement for specific HLA alleles to present the immunodominant hexon peptides effectively.

Other names

Adenovirus hexon peptidesHAdV hexon-derived epitopesMHC-presented adenoviral hexon antigensHexon-pMHC complexAdenoviral hexon antigen

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the peptide-MHC complex leading to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation and cytokine release.