Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-derived peptide-major histocompatibility complex (HER2 peptide-MHC)

The Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-derived peptide-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a specialized molecular target used in cancer immunotherapy to stimulate the immune system against HER2-overexpressing tumors. HER2 (ERBB2) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase often overexpressed in various malignancies, including breast and gastric cancers, where it drives malignant transformation (PMID: 11481338). Intracellular processing of the HER2 protein results in short peptide fragments that are loaded onto MHC molecules and displayed on the cell surface. When these complexes are presented by professional antigen-presenting cells like dendritic cells, they prime and activate CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and CD4+ helper T cells (PMID: 15173864). This activation enables the immune system to specifically recognize and eliminate tumor cells displaying the same HER2 peptide-MHC complexes. Therapeutic strategies targeting this complex include peptide vaccines like Nelipepimut-S and dendritic cell-based vaccines like Lapuleucel-T (PMID: 22524446). However, potential safety concerns include cardiotoxicity due to low-level HER2 expression in cardiac tissue (PMID: 23099481).

Other names

HER2/neu peptide-HLA complexERBB2 peptide-MHC complexHER2 epitope-MHCp95HER2 peptide-MHC

Induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses and helper T-cell responses against HER2-expressing cells through the presentation of HER2-derived epitopes by MHC molecules to the T-cell receptor (TCR).