Adenovirus hexon peptide-major histocompatibility complex (HAdV hexon pMHC)

Adenovirus hexon-derived peptide-MHC complexes are molecular structures formed when peptides from the immunodominant hexon protein of human adenovirus (HAdV) are presented on the cell surface by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, such as HLA-A*02:01 or HLA-DP4 (Gene Therapy, 2004; JPT Peptide Technologies, 2024). These complexes are the primary targets for T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition, triggering the activation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells to clear viral infections (NIH, 2023; bioRxiv, 2025). The hexon protein is highly conserved across HAdV species, making its derived epitopes ideal targets for broad-spectrum antiviral immunity (Journal of Virology, 2016). Clinically, these pMHC complexes are targeted by adoptive virus-specific T-cell (VST) therapies, such as posoleucel, to treat life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Transplant Cell Therapy, 2023). Additionally, novel engineered TCR-T cells and TCR-like antibodies are being developed to target these specific pMHC configurations (OncoImmunology, 2015). Therapeutic challenges include the necessity for HLA matching and the potential for off-target cross-reactivity with self-peptides, which may lead to graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) or other immunopathologies (NIH, 2023).

Other names

Adenovirus hexon pMHCHAdV hexon peptide-HLA complexAdenovirus-derived peptide-major histocompatibility complexAdenovirus hexon-derived epitope-MHC complex

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) leading to activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and targeted lysis of adenovirus-infected cells.