Adenovirus penton protein-derived peptide-MHC class I complex (Adv penton-pMHC I)

Adenovirus penton-derived peptide–MHC class I complexes are specialized molecular structures presented on the surface of cells infected by Adenoviruses. These complexes are formed when the host cell's proteasome degrades the viral penton base protein—a key structural component responsible for cell entry—into short peptide fragments, which are then loaded onto Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules (Shiraki et al., 2003). The resulting peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex acts as a specific red flag for the cellular immune system, allowing CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes to identify and eliminate the infected cell (Feuchtinger et al., 2004). In clinical practice, these complexes are the primary targets for virus-specific T-cell (VST) therapies, which are increasingly used to manage refractory adenovirus infections in immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Leen et al., 2006). Because the penton base is highly conserved across different adenovirus serotypes, these pMHC complexes are ideal targets for broad-spectrum antiviral immunotherapy. Therapeutic interventions targeting these complexes include adoptively transferred T cells and experimental TCR-like antibodies designed to mimic the natural immune recognition process.

Other names

Adenovirus penton base peptide-HLA complexAdv penton-MHC IAdenovirus penton epitope-MHC complexPenton-derived peptide-HLA-A*24:02 complexPenton-derived peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complex

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) on cytotoxic T cells leading to targeted cell lysis and cytokine release.