Epstein-Barr virus peptide-major histocompatibility complex (EBV pMHC)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) peptide antigens presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules serve as the primary recognition signal for the adaptive immune system to detect EBV-infected cells. These complexes are formed when viral proteins, such as Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens (EBNA) or latent membrane proteins (LMP), are processed into short peptides and loaded onto MHC Class I or II molecules for cell-surface display (Taylor et al., 2015, PubMed: 25724148). In healthy carriers, EBV-specific T cells recognize these pMHC complexes to maintain viral latency; however, disruptions in this process can lead to malignancies like nasopharyngeal carcinoma and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) (Long et al., 2011, PubMed: 21148331). Therapeutic interventions, such as tabelecleucel, involve the administration of allogeneic T cells that specifically bind these EBV pMHC targets to eliminate cancerous or infected cells (Prockop et al., 2020, PubMed: 32814729). Emerging research also highlights the role of these complexes in autoimmune diseases, notably multiple sclerosis, where molecular mimicry between EBV peptides and host proteins may trigger neuroinflammation (Bjornevik et al., 2022, Science). Targeting these complexes allows for high specificity, as the pMHC is a unique signature of the infected or transformed state of the cell.

Other names

EBV peptide-HLA complexEBV antigen-MHC complexEpstein-Barr virus-specific pMHCEBV-HLA complex

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) leading to targeted lysis of EBV-infected cells and induction of inflammatory cytokines.