Cytomegalovirus pp65 and IE1 peptide-HLA complexes (CMV pp65/IE1-pHLA)

Peptide–HLA complexes derived from CMV pp65 and IE1 are molecular assemblies consisting of viral peptides presented by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules on the surface of infected or antigen-presenting cells (Slezak et al., 2007). The 65 kDa phosphoprotein (pp65) and Immediate-Early protein 1 (IE1) are the most immunodominant antigens of Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV), eliciting robust CD8+ T-cell responses in healthy individuals (NIH, 2025). These complexes serve as critical targets for the immune system to maintain viral latency and prevent reactivation. In clinical settings, particularly in hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation, these complexes are targeted by adoptive T-cell therapies and vaccines to restore anti-CMV immunity in immunocompromised patients (Frontiers in Immunology, 2019). Additionally, because CMV antigens have been detected in certain malignancies like glioblastoma, these pMHC complexes are being explored as targets for cancer immunotherapy using TCR-engineered T cells and TCR-like antibodies (NIH, 2023).

Other names

CMV-specific pMHCCMV pp65/IE1-MHC complexesCMV-specific peptide-HLA complexespp65/IE1-HLA complexesCMV-specific pHLAHCMV pp65 and IE1 peptide-MHC complexes

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of viral peptides presented by HLA molecules, leading to T-cell activation, cytokine release, and immune-mediated cytotoxicity against CMV-infected or antigen-presenting cells.