Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) 573–581 peptide presented by HLA-DPB1*05:01 (EBNA1 573–581/HLA-DP5)

The EBNA1 573–581 peptide presented by HLA-DP5 is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) class II target used in the development of immunotherapies against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated diseases. EBNA1 is a DNA-binding protein essential for the replication and persistence of the EBV genome and is uniquely expressed in all EBV-related malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma and various lymphomas. The specific epitope spanning residues 573–581 is processed and presented on the cell surface by the HLA-DPB1*05:01 allele, which is highly prevalent in East Asian populations. This pMHC complex is a primary target for TCR-engineered T-cell therapies (TCR-T) and therapeutic vaccines designed to elicit a robust CD4+ T-cell response. By targeting this complex, clinicians aim to selectively eliminate EBV-infected cells while minimizing damage to healthy, non-infected tissues.

Other names

EBNA1 573-581/HLA-DPB1*05:01 complexEBNA1(573-581) peptide-MHC complexHLA-DP5-restricted EBNA1 epitopeEBNA1 p573-581

The complex acts as a ligand for specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD4+ T lymphocytes. Binding of a therapeutic TCR to this peptide-MHC complex triggers T-cell activation, cytokine production (such as IFN-gamma), and direct or indirect lysis of EBV-infected cells expressing the EBNA1 protein.