CD8+ T-cell receptor specific for HLA-A*02:01-pp65 complex (TCR-HLA-A*02:01-pp65)

The CD8+ T-cell receptor specific for the HLA-A*02:01–pp65 complex is a specialized immune receptor that recognizes the immunodominant NLVPMVATV peptide derived from the Cytomegalovirus (CMV) 65 kDa phosphoprotein (pp65) [1][2]. This peptide is presented on the cell surface by the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) allele A*02:01, a common MHC Class I molecule [2]. Recognition of this specific peptide-MHC complex by the TCR triggers T-cell activation, leading to the release of perforin and granzymes that induce apoptosis in CMV-infected cells [3]. In clinical applications, these TCRs are isolated and used to engineer T cells for adoptive cell therapy (TCR-T) to treat refractory CMV infections in immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation [4]. Furthermore, research has explored targeting this complex in malignancies like glioblastoma, where CMV antigens are reportedly expressed in tumor tissues [5]. Therapeutic development focuses on optimizing TCR affinity while minimizing the risk of off-target cross-reactivity with human self-peptides [6]. The specificity of this TCR makes it a precise tool for targeting CMV-related pathologies while sparing healthy tissues that do not present the viral antigen [3]. Monitoring patient HLA status and viral load is essential for the effective application of these TCR-based therapies [4].

Other names

CMV-pp65-specific TCRHLA-A2-pp65 TCRNLVPMVATV-specific T-cell receptorT-cell receptor specific for CMV pp65 (495-503)pp65-specific TCR

Adoptive T-cell therapy involving the engineering of T cells to express a specific TCR that recognizes the pp65 peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01, leading to targeted destruction of CMV-infected or pp65-expressing cells.