Cytomegalovirus pp65 and IE-1 peptide-Major Histocompatibility Complexes (CMV pp65/IE-1 pMHC)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 (UL83) and IE-1 (UL123) are immunodominant antigens presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of infected cells (PubMed: 15507653). The pp65 protein is a major tegument protein, while IE-1 is an immediate-early protein; both are critical targets for the host's cellular immune response (UniProt: P06725, P13202). These peptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes are recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which then eliminate the infected cells (NIH: PMC4143104). In therapeutic contexts, these complexes serve as targets for adoptive T-cell therapies, TCR-engineered T cells, and vaccines designed to prevent or treat CMV reactivation in immunocompromised patients, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (PubMed: 28232598). Targeting these specific pMHC complexes allows for highly specific immune intervention against CMV-infected cells while sparing healthy, non-infected tissue.

Other names

CMV pp65/IE-1 peptide-HLA complexesUL83/UL123-MHC complexesCMV antigen-MHC complexespp65/IE-1 pMHC

Recognition of the peptide-MHC complex by specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) triggers the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, leading to the targeted lysis of CMV-infected cells.