Cytomegalovirus phosphoprotein 65-derived peptide NLVPMVATV presented by Human Leukocyte Antigen A*02:01 (CMV pp65 NLV/HLA-A*02:01)

The Cytomegalovirus (CMV) phosphoprotein 65 (pp65)-derived peptide NLVPMVATV presented by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-A*02:01 is a critical immunodominant epitope recognized by the human immune system (UniProt: P06725). This complex consists of a 9-amino acid peptide (NLVPMVATV) derived from the CMV pp65 protein, which is loaded onto the HLA-A*02:01 MHC class I molecule for presentation on the surface of infected cells (PubMed: 10438932). It serves as a primary target for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which play a vital role in controlling CMV infection and preventing reactivation in immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant recipients (Blood: 10.1182/blood.V90.9.3730). In the pharmaceutical industry, this pMHC complex is a major focal point for the development of adoptive cell therapies, including CMV-specific T cells and TCR-engineered T cells (TCR-T). Additionally, it is used as a model antigen in the design of vaccines and bispecific T-cell engagers aimed at enhancing viral clearance (NCT04350190). Monitoring the presence of T cells specific to this epitope is a key biomarker for assessing a patient's functional anti-CMV immunity (NCT02506933).

Other names

NLVPMVATV-HLA-A*02:01 complexCMV pp65 (495-503) HLA-A2 complexHLA-A*02:01/NLVPMVATVpp65-NLV/A2CMV pp65 NLV peptide-MHC

The primary mechanism involves the recognition of the pMHC complex by specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which triggers the release of perforin and granzymes to induce apoptosis in CMV-infected cells (PubMed: 10438932). Therapeutic interventions like TCR-T cells or vaccines aim to enhance this recognition or expand the population of specific T cells to control viral replication (NCT04350190).