Epstein-Barr virus antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules (EBV pMHC)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules serve as the primary recognition signals for the cellular immune system to identify EBV-infected cells. EBV is a gammaherpesvirus that persists in a latent state within B lymphocytes and is etiologically linked to several malignancies, including Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (PubMed: 15565132). During latency, the virus expresses specific proteins such as EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA1, 2, 3A-C) and latent membrane proteins (LMP1, 2), which are proteolytically processed into short peptides. These peptides are then loaded onto MHC Class I or Class II molecules and transported to the cell surface for presentation to T-cell receptors (TCRs) (UniProt: P03211). Therapeutic interventions, such as adoptive T-cell therapy (e.g., tabelecleucel), leverage these complexes to direct cytotoxic T cells to eliminate EBV-positive tumor cells (EMA: Ebvallo). The specificity of this interaction is determined by both the viral peptide sequence and the host's human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype. Challenges in targeting these complexes include viral mechanisms of immune evasion, such as the downregulation of MHC expression, and the potential for off-target reactivity if the viral peptide mimics self-antigens. Monitoring EBV DNA levels and HLA matching are critical components of clinical management for therapies targeting these antigens.

Other names

EBV peptide-MHC complexesEpstein-Barr virus-derived peptides presented by HLAEBV-HLA complexesEBV-MHC complex

Recognition of viral peptide-MHC complexes by T-cell receptors (TCRs) leading to targeted lysis of EBV-infected cells.