Adenovirus-infected cells presenting adenoviral peptides on HLA molecules (AdV-pHLA complex)

Adenovirus-infected cells presenting adenoviral peptides on HLA molecules serve as the primary target for cellular immunotherapy against adenovirus (AdV) infections (Feuchtinger et al., 2006). In this context, viral proteins such as the Hexon, Penton, or Fiber proteins are processed by the host cell's proteasome into short peptides, which are then loaded onto Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules and transported to the cell surface (UniProt, 2024). This peptide-HLA (pHLA) complex acts as a molecular signal that is specifically recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of CD8+ and CD4+ T-lymphocytes (Leen et al., 2006). Adenovirus infections pose a significant threat to immunocompromised patients, particularly those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), where they can cause hemorrhagic cystitis, pneumonia, or hepatitis (Allovir, 2023). Therapeutic interventions like virus-specific T-cells (VSTs), such as Posoleucel, are designed to identify these specific pHLA complexes to selectively eliminate infected cells. By leveraging the specificity of the adaptive immune system, these therapies aim to provide a potent antiviral effect with minimal damage to non-infected tissues.

Other names

Adenovirus peptide-MHC complexAdV-pMHCAdenovirus-specific T-cell targetAdenovirus antigen-presenting cells

Recognition of the peptide-HLA complex by the T-cell receptor (TCR) of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, leading to the release of perforins and granzymes and subsequent apoptosis of the infected cell.