Hepatitis B virus peptide–Major Histocompatibility Complex (HBV pMHC)

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) peptide–Major Histocompatibility Complex (pMHC) complexes are molecular assemblies formed when viral proteins are processed into short peptides and presented on the cell surface by MHC molecules [PMID: 33859104]. These complexes are primarily found on the surface of HBV-infected hepatocytes or HBV-integrated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, where they serve as the specific targets for CD8+ T-cell recognition [PMID: 32661151]. In chronic HBV infection, the natural T-cell response against these pMHC targets is often impaired or exhausted, allowing the virus to persist [PMID: 31110347]. Therapeutic interventions such as TCR-engineered T-cell (TCR-T) therapies and bispecific T-cell engagers are designed to specifically bind these HBV pMHC complexes to trigger potent immune-mediated destruction of the target cells [NCT05417932, NCT04219163]. These therapies typically target well-characterized epitopes, such as those derived from the HBV surface (HBsAg) or core (HBcAg) proteins, restricted by common HLA alleles like HLA-A*02:01 [PMID: 34513518]. The clinical success of these agents depends on the density of pMHC presentation and the avoidance of cross-reactivity with similar self-peptides presented on healthy tissues [PMID: 33859104].

Other names

HBV pMHCHBV antigen-MHC complexHLA-HBV peptide complexHBV-specific pMHC

Targeting of HBV peptide–MHC complexes by engineered T-cell receptors (TCRs) or TCR-like antibodies to induce T-cell mediated lysis of HBV-infected or HBV-integrated malignant cells.