Cyclin B1-derived peptide–MHC complex (CCNB1-MHC)

Cyclin B1-derived peptide–MHC complexes are specialized molecular structures formed when fragments of the Cyclin B1 protein are presented on the surface of cells by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules (NIH, 2001). Cyclin B1 is a critical regulatory protein for the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and is frequently overexpressed and aberrantly localized in the cytoplasm of various cancer cells, including those in breast, lung, and head and neck tumors (AACR, 2006). This overexpression leads to an increased density of Cyclin B1-derived peptides on the cell surface, making them viable targets for T-cell recognition (NIH, 2001). In therapeutic applications, autologous dendritic cells are harvested from a patient and 'pulsed' with these specific peptides to create a personalized vaccine (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2026). Once re-administered, these dendritic cells present the peptide-MHC complexes to the patient's immune system, specifically activating CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (NIH, 2022). These activated T cells then circulate and selectively destroy tumor cells that display the same Cyclin B1-MHC complexes, providing a targeted immunotherapy approach (Cancer Research, 2006). The specificity of the response is often restricted by the patient's HLA type, most commonly HLA-A*0201. Overall, these complexes serve as a bridge between the intracellular dysregulation of the cell cycle and the adaptive immune system's ability to clear malignant cells.

Other names

Cyclin B1 peptide-HLA complexCCNB1-HLA-A2 complexCyclin B1 antigenCCNB1-MHC complexCyclin B1-pulsed dendritic cell antigen

Stimulation of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes to recognize and eliminate tumor cells overexpressing Cyclin B1.