Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5-derived peptide presented on MHC (Survivin pMHC)

Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5 (Survivin) is a 16.5 kDa protein that plays a dual role in promoting cell survival by inhibiting caspases and ensuring proper chromosome segregation during mitosis (UniProt: O15392). The presentation of Survivin-derived peptides on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules allows the immune system to distinguish malignant cells from healthy ones, as Survivin is overexpressed in a wide array of cancers including glioblastoma, melanoma, and breast cancer, but is largely absent in normal adult tissues (PubMed: 12778148). This peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex is a primary target for various immunotherapeutic modalities, including peptide-based vaccines like SurVaxM and DPX-Survivac, which are designed to elicit a CD8+ T-cell response (PubMed: 30545844). Additionally, engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies and TCR-like antibodies are being developed to specifically bind these pMHC complexes to induce direct tumor cell lysis. The clinical utility of targeting this complex is often linked to the patient's HLA type, most commonly HLA-A*02:01, which dictates the specific peptide sequence presented (PubMed: 15150570).

Other names

Survivin peptide-MHC complexBIRC5 peptide-HLA complexSurvivin-derived T-cell epitopeSurvivin-derived peptide-MHCSurvivin-HLA-A*0201 complex

Induction of peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses and direct immune-mediated lysis of tumor cells presenting the Survivin-derived peptide on MHC molecules (PubMed: 30545844).