Epstein–Barr virus peptide–HLA complex (EBV-pHLA)

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) peptide–HLA complexes are molecular assemblies found on the surface of cells infected with EBV, consisting of viral-derived peptides bound within the groove of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules (Taylor et al., 2015). These complexes serve as the primary signal for the host's cellular immune system, specifically CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, to identify and eliminate infected or transformed cells (Cohen, 2000). EBV is associated with various malignancies, including Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, as well as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) (Young & Rickinson, 2004). In these conditions, the virus maintains a latent infection where specific viral proteins like EBNA and LMP are expressed, processed, and presented as pHLA complexes (Long et al., 2011). Therapeutic strategies targeting these complexes include adoptive T-cell therapies, such as tabelecleucel, and engineered TCR-T cells designed to recognize specific EBV epitopes (Prockop et al., 2020). These treatments aim to restore or enhance the immune system's ability to clear EBV-positive cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue (Atara Biotherapeutics, 2024).

Other names

EBV peptide-MHC complexEBV-pMHCEpstein-Barr virus antigen-HLA complexEBV-specific HLA-peptide complex

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) leading to targeted lysis of infected cells