HLA-A*24:02-restricted Lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus K (LY6K) peptide-MHC complex (HLA-A*24:02/LY6K)

The HLA-A*24:02-restricted Lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus K (LY6K) peptide-MHC complex is a highly specific target for cancer immunotherapy, particularly in populations where the HLA-A*24:02 allele is prevalent, such as in East Asia (Ishikawa et al., 2007). LY6K is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein and a member of the cancer-testis antigen family, meaning it is overexpressed in various cancers—including lung, esophageal, and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas—but has limited expression in normal tissues except the testis (Kono et al., 2009). The specific epitope, typically the LY6K-177 peptide (RYCNLEGPPI), is processed and presented by HLA-A*24:02 on the surface of malignant cells, where it can be recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) (Suda et al., 2007). This recognition triggers the release of perforins and granzymes, leading to the apoptosis of the tumor cell. Current therapeutic approaches leveraging this target include peptide vaccines, which aim to prime the endogenous immune system, and adoptive cell therapies like TCR-T, which provide patients with pre-sensitized T cells (Matsushita et al., 2015). Due to its high tumor specificity and the critical role of LY6K in cell proliferation and invasion, this pMHC complex is a significant focus for developing precision immunotherapies (Alshamsan, 2020).

Other names

LY6K-177 peptide-HLA-A*24:02 complexHLA-A*24:02/LY6K-177LY6K-A24 complexLymphocyte antigen 6K presented by HLA-A*24:02

Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) mediated lysis of tumor cells through the recognition of the LY6K peptide presented by HLA-A*24:02.