Epstein-Barr virus antigen-derived peptides presented on Human Leukocyte Antigen A*11:01 (EBV-HLA-A*11:01)

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigen-derived peptides presented on Human Leukocyte Antigen A*11:01 (HLA-A*11:01) constitute a specific peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex that serves as a primary target for cellular immunotherapies. HLA-A*11:01 is a common MHC Class I allele, particularly in East Asian populations, where EBV-associated malignancies like nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are endemic (Source: Nature Communications, 2020). These complexes are formed when EBV-infected cells process viral proteins—such as Latent Membrane Proteins (LMP1, LMP2) or EBV Nuclear Antigens (EBNA)—into short peptides and display them on the cell surface via the HLA-A*11:01 molecule (Source: Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1995). This presentation allows the immune system, specifically CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, to recognize and eliminate infected or malignant cells. Therapeutic interventions, such as TCR-engineered T cells (TCR-T) and EBV-specific T cells (EBVSTs), are engineered to bind these specific pMHC complexes with high affinity to trigger a potent anti-tumor or anti-viral response (Source: Blood, 2015). Clinical applications primarily focus on treating NPC, EBV-positive lymphomas, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) (Source: Clinical & Translational Immunology, 2021). The specificity of this target is crucial for minimizing off-target effects, although the potential for cross-reactivity with similar self-peptides remains a safety consideration.

Other names

EBV pMHC complexHLA-A*11:01 restricted EBV antigensEBV-specific HLA-A11:01Epstein-Barr virus peptide-MHC complexHLA-A11 restricted EBV epitopes

Drugs targeting this complex utilize engineered or naturally occurring T-cell receptors (TCRs) to specifically recognize the EBV peptide presented by the HLA-A*11:01 molecule, leading to the formation of an immunological synapse and the subsequent activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to lyse the target cell (Source: Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 2021).