Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2 peptide–HLA class I complex (EBV LMP2-HLA-I complex)

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) peptide–HLA class I complex is a critical immunological target found on the surface of cells infected with EBV or EBV-associated malignancies (PMID: 20651073). LMP2 is a viral protein expressed during Latency Type II and III, which are characteristic of diseases such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PMID: 15141015). In these cells, LMP2 is processed by the proteasome into short peptides that are then loaded onto HLA class I molecules and transported to the cell surface (UniProt: P13285). These complexes serve as the primary signal for recognition by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) via their specific T-cell receptors (TCRs). Because LMP2 is a foreign viral protein with limited expression in healthy tissues, these complexes are highly attractive targets for precision immunotherapies, including adoptive T-cell transfers like tabelecleucel and TCR-engineered T cells (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04554914). Targeting this complex aims to induce a robust and specific immune response to eliminate EBV-positive tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy host tissues.

Other names

LMP2-HLA complexEBV LMP2 peptide-MHC class I complexLMP2A-HLA complexLMP2B-HLA complexEBV LMP2-MHC-I

Recognition by specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, leading to the targeted lysis of EBV-infected or malignant cells expressing the LMP2 protein (PMID: 15141015).