Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen family-derived peptide-HLA class I complex (EBV EBNA-pHLA class I)

Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA) family-derived peptide-HLA class I complexes are molecular structures formed when peptides from EBV nuclear proteins (EBNA1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, and LP) are processed and presented on the cell surface by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules. These complexes serve as the primary targets for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which recognize the specific viral peptide-HLA combination via their T-cell receptors (TCRs). In healthy individuals, these complexes facilitate the lifelong immune control of EBV infection; however, in immunocompromised patients or those with EBV-associated malignancies, the failure of this recognition leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation. (Source: PubMed, PMID: 31435311; UniProt). Therapeutically, these complexes are targeted by adoptive T-cell therapies, such as Tabelecleucel, and experimental TCR-engineered T cells (TCR-T) to treat EBV-driven diseases like post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Because EBNA proteins are expressed during different phases of EBV latency, targeting these complexes allows for the selective elimination of latently infected or cancerous cells while sparing healthy tissue. The efficacy of these treatments is highly dependent on the patient's HLA genotype, as specific peptides are only presented by certain HLA alleles, such as HLA-A*02:01 or HLA-B*08:01. (Source: NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov).

Other names

EBV EBNA peptide-MHC complexesEBNA-derived peptide-HLA complexesEBV nuclear antigen peptide-HLA class I complexesEBNA-pHLA

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, leading to targeted lysis of EBV-infected or transformed cells.