Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 peptide-major histocompatibility complex (EBNA-1 pMHC)

The Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) is a critical immunological target for treating EBV-associated diseases. EBNA-1 is a DNA-binding protein essential for the replication and persistence of the EBV genome in host cells and is consistently expressed in all EBV-related malignancies, including Nasopharyngeal carcinoma and various lymphomas (UniProt P03211). While EBNA-1 possesses a glycine-alanine repeat domain that hinders its endogenous processing for MHC class I presentation, specific epitopes are nonetheless presented on the cell surface via alternative pathways or MHC class II molecules (PMID: 7749924). These pMHC complexes serve as the primary recognition signal for EBV-specific T cells. Therapeutic approaches targeting these complexes include adoptive T-cell therapies, such as Tabelecleucel, and experimental TCR-like antibodies designed to bind the peptide-MHC interface with high specificity (PMID: 31533975). Targeting EBNA-1 pMHC is particularly valuable because it allows for the selective destruction of latently infected cells while sparing healthy tissue, and it has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (PMID: 35025631).

Other names

EBNA1-HLA complexEBV EBNA-1 epitope-MHCEBNA1 pMHCEBNA-1 peptide-HLA complexEBNA1-derived peptide-MHC

Recognition of specific EBNA-1 peptide sequences presented by MHC molecules on the surface of infected cells by T-cell receptors (TCRs) or TCR-mimetic molecules, leading to targeted cytotoxicity.