HLA-A*11:01-presented Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1-derived peptide (HLA-A*11:01/EBV LMP1)

The HLA-A*11:01-presented EBV LMP1-derived peptide is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) that serves as a critical target for immunotherapy in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignancies (Meij et al., 2002, J Virol). Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1) is a key oncogenic protein produced by EBV that mimics CD40 signaling to promote cell survival and proliferation in infected B-cells and epithelial cells (Gires et al., 1997, EMBO J). In patients carrying the HLA-A*11:01 allele, specific LMP1 peptides, such as the SSCSSCPLSK epitope, are processed and displayed on the cell surface by MHC Class I molecules (Lin et al., 2018, Blood). This pMHC complex is recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, triggering a targeted immune response against the tumor cell. Therapeutic strategies targeting this complex include TCR-engineered T-cell (TCR-T) therapies and TCR-like antibodies, which provide high specificity for EBV-positive tumor cells (Lion TCR, 2023). Because LMP1 is a viral antigen not expressed in healthy human tissues, it represents an ideal target for minimizing off-target toxicity. Clinical applications primarily focus on nasopharyngeal carcinoma and EBV-positive lymphomas, which are prevalent in regions where the HLA-A*11:01 allele is common, such as Southeast Asia (NCT03644888).

Other names

HLA-A*11:01/LMP1 complexEBV LMP1 peptide-MHC complexLMP1-A1101Epstein-Barr virus Latent Membrane Protein 1 peptideSSCSSCPLSK-HLA-A*11:01

T-cell receptor mediated recognition and cytotoxic killing of EBV-infected or malignant cells