Hepatitis B surface antigen peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complex (HBsAg/HLA-A*02:01)

The Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complex is a specific molecular target consisting of an 8-10 amino acid peptide derived from the HBsAg protein presented by the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecule A*02:01. This complex is expressed on the surface of hepatocytes infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and in HBV-integrated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. It serves as a primary signal for CD8+ T-cell recognition, making it a focal point for the development of adoptive cell therapies, such as T-cell receptor-engineered T-cell (TCR-T) therapy. By targeting this specific peptide-MHC complex, therapeutic agents can selectively direct the immune system to eliminate HBV-infected or malignant cells while sparing healthy, non-infected tissue. Current clinical efforts focus on utilizing high-affinity TCRs or TCR-like antibodies to overcome the immune tolerance typically observed in chronic HBV patients.

Other names

HBsAg-derived peptide-MHC complexHBsAg-HLA-A2 complexHBV surface antigen peptide-HLA-A*02:01HBsAg 183-191/HLA-A*02:01

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition and lysis of target cells; TCR-like antibody binding to peptide-MHC complex.