Chikungunya virus-specific CD8+ T cell receptor (CHIKV-specific TCR)

The Chikungunya virus-specific CD8+ T cell receptor (TCR) is a specialized protein complex located on the surface of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that mediates the recognition of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) antigens. These receptors specifically bind to viral peptides, such as the immunodominant E2-L67 epitope, when they are presented by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class I molecules, most notably HLA-A*02:01, on the surface of infected cells (Simarmata et al., 2016). This binding event triggers a signaling cascade through the CD3 complex, leading to T cell activation, proliferation, and the release of cytotoxic granules containing perforin and granzymes to eliminate the infected cell (Tan et al., 2019). In the context of CHIKV infection, these TCRs are essential for controlling the acute viral load and preventing progression to chronic arthralgia, although their role in chronic disease remains a subject of active research (Priyamvada et al., 2017). While there are currently no small-molecule drugs that target these TCRs, they are the focus of vaccine development strategies, such as the live-attenuated vaccine IXCHIQ, which aims to elicit robust cellular immunity (Valneva, 2023). Additionally, these receptors are being explored for adoptive TCR-engineered T cell (TCR-T) therapies to treat severe or persistent infections. The specificity and repertoire of these TCRs serve as critical biomarkers for assessing vaccine efficacy and the quality of natural immunity in clinical settings.

Other names

CHIKV-specific T-cell receptorCD8+ TCR recognizing CHIKV peptide-HLAChikungunya virus-reactive TCRCHIKV-specific CD8+ TCR

Recognition of Chikungunya virus-derived peptides presented by MHC Class I (HLA) molecules, inducing T cell activation and cytotoxic destruction of infected cells.