Antigenic targets

Antigenic targets encompass a broad category of molecules, primarily proteins, carbohydrates, or lipids, that are recognized by the adaptive immune system's receptors, such as antibodies and T-cell receptors (Janeway et al., 2001). In pharmacology and vaccinology, these targets are utilized to elicit or direct an immune response against specific pathogens or diseased cells, such as cancer cells (Abbas et al., 2014). For instance, monoclonal antibodies are designed to bind specific antigenic determinants, known as epitopes, on the surface of cells to induce cell death through mechanisms like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement activation (Weiner et al., 2010). The identification of highly specific antigenic targets is a cornerstone of modern precision medicine, particularly in the development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and targeted biologics (June et al., 2018). These targets can be classified as tumor-associated antigens, pathogen-derived antigens, or autoantigens depending on the disease context (Sadelain et al., 2017). Therapeutic success depends heavily on the differential expression of the antigen between target cells and healthy tissues to minimize 'on-target, off-tumor' toxicity (Pardoll, 2012). However, challenges such as antigenic drift in viruses or 'antigen loss' in tumors can lead to therapeutic resistance and treatment failure (Sadelain et al., 2017).

Other names

AntigenImmunogenEpitopeSurface markerTarget antigen

Antigenic targets serve as specific binding sites for antibodies, T-cell receptors, or synthetic ligands, facilitating immune-mediated destruction, neutralization, or signaling modulation of the target cell or pathogen.