Desmoglein 3 peptide–MHC class II–T cell receptor complex

The “Desmoglein 3 peptide–MHC class II–T cell receptor complex” is not a canonical drug target or single protein, but instead refers to a trimolecular immune recognition complex central to adaptive immunity and autoimmunity. In this complex, a peptide fragment derived from the Desmoglein 3 protein (notably an autoantigen in pemphigus vulgaris) is presented by an MHC class II molecule (such as HLA-DRB1*0402), which is then recognized by the variable domain of a T cell receptor (TCR) on CD4+ T cells[4][5][6]. This specific recognition event is implicated in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris, an autoimmune blistering disease, by facilitating autoreactive T cell help for pathogenic antibody production against Desmoglein 3[4]. Structurally, these trimolecular complexes underlie the specificity of T cell responses, but are not themselves considered drug targets; rather, their components (e.g., HLA-DR, TCR, Desmoglein 3) may separately be studied or targeted[4][1][2][5][6].

Other names

Desmoglein 3 peptide–HLA class II–TCR complexDsg3 peptide–MHC II–TCR complex