Cytomegalovirus phosphoprotein 65-derived peptides presented by Human Leukocyte Antigen class I (CMV pp65/HLA-I)

The Cytomegalovirus (CMV) phosphoprotein 65 (pp65), also known as UL83, is a major tegument protein and the primary immunodominant target for the host's cellular immune response during infection (UniProt: P06725). Peptides derived from pp65, such as the well-characterized NLVPMVATV epitope, are processed intracellularly and presented on the cell surface by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules (PubMed: 15507653). This peptide-MHC complex is recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, which trigger the lysis of infected cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (PubMed: 10438930). In clinical practice, this complex is a major therapeutic target for preventing and treating CMV reactivation in immunocompromised transplant recipients through adoptive T-cell therapy and peptide-based vaccines (PubMed: 28235834). Additionally, the presence of pp65 in certain tumors, such as glioblastoma, has led to the development of pp65-targeted immunotherapies for oncology (PubMed: 25730880).

Other names

HCMV pp65/HLA-I complexUL83-derived peptides/MHC class ICMV pp65-MHC complexpp65-HLA-A*02:01

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, leading to the targeted destruction of cells presenting the viral peptides.