Cytomegalovirus phosphoprotein 65 (pp65) peptide NLVPMVATV presented by HLA-A*02:01 (CMV pp65/HLA-A*02:01)

The CMV pp65 peptide epitope presented on HLA-A*02:01 is a critical immunological target for managing Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals such as transplant recipients [PubMed: 10438932]. The specific peptide, often the immunodominant NLVPMVATV sequence derived from the pp65 tegument protein (UL83), is loaded onto the HLA-A*02:01 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule for presentation on the surface of infected cells [UniProt: P06725]. This peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex is specifically recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, triggering an immune response that includes the destruction of the infected cell and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IFN-gamma [PubMed: 15905523]. In clinical practice, this complex serves as a primary target for adoptive T-cell therapies, such as Posoleucel, and peptide-based vaccines like Triplex aimed at restoring or enhancing CMV-specific immunity [AlloVir, 2023; City of Hope, 2021]. Furthermore, it is widely used as a diagnostic tool in the form of pMHC tetramers to monitor the frequency and functional status of CMV-specific T cells in patients [PubMed: 9492369]. Therapeutic strategies targeting this complex are essential for preventing CMV reactivation, which can lead to severe organ damage and transplant rejection [NIH: NCT03564483]. The high prevalence of the HLA-A*02:01 allele in the human population makes this specific pMHC complex a broadly applicable target for immunotherapy development [PubMed: 11033097]. Challenges in targeting this complex include potential viral mutations that lead to immune escape and the risk of graft-versus-host disease in the context of allogeneic cell transfer [PubMed: 25609845].

Other names

NLVPMVATV-HLA-A*02:01 complexHCMV pp65(495-503) epitopeHLA-A*02:01-restricted CMV pp65 peptidepMHC complex CMV pp65UL83 peptide-MHC complex

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, leading to the lysis of CMV-infected cells and the release of antiviral cytokines [PubMed: 15905523].