HLA-A*02:01-presented Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2-derived peptide (HLA-A*02:01/EBV LMP2 peptide)

The HLA-A*02:01-presented Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2)-derived peptide is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) target found on the surface of EBV-infected cells and associated malignancies. LMP2 is a viral protein expressed during the latent phase of EBV infection and plays a critical role in B-cell signaling and viral persistence (UniProt P13285). In the context of the HLA-A*02:01 allele, specific immunodominant epitopes such as CLGGLLTMV (LMP2 426-434) are processed and presented to the immune system (PubMed: 10449777). This complex serves as a highly specific target for T-cell-based immunotherapies, including T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cells and TCR-like antibodies, because it is expressed by tumor cells but absent from healthy, non-infected tissues (PubMed: 30633423). Targeting this pMHC complex allows for the selective destruction of EBV-positive tumor cells in diseases like nasopharyngeal carcinoma and EBV-positive lymphomas (PubMed: 25403441). Therapeutic strategies often focus on enhancing the frequency and activity of T cells that specifically recognize this viral epitope to overcome the immunosuppressive environment of EBV-associated tumors.

Other names

HLA-A*02:01/LMP2 complexEBV LMP2 peptide-MHCLMP2:HLA-A*02:01CLGGLLTMV:HLA-A*02:01FLYALALLL:HLA-A*02:01

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the peptide-MHC complex leading to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation and lysis of EBV-infected or malignant cells.