HLA class I antigen A*24 alpha chain (HLA-A24)

HLA class I antigen A*24 alpha chain (HLA-A24) is a highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule that plays a fundamental role in the adaptive immune system by presenting endogenous peptides to CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). It is a transmembrane protein that, upon binding with beta-2 microglobulin and a specific peptide, forms a complex on the cell surface that is recognized by T-cell receptors (TCRs) to trigger immune surveillance against viruses and tumors. HLA-A24 is particularly prevalent in East Asian and Indigenous populations, making it a critical focus for personalized immunotherapies such as TCR-engineered T-cell (TCR-T) therapies and peptide vaccines in these regions. In oncology, it is used to target tumor-associated antigens like WT1, MAGE-A4, and NY-ESO-1, while in other contexts, it is associated with autoimmune conditions like Type 1 diabetes and severe drug hypersensitivity reactions. Therapeutic strategies targeting HLA-A24 aim to enhance the recognition of malignant cells, though challenges such as tumor-mediated HLA downregulation and potential off-target immune activation remain significant clinical hurdles.

Other names

HLA-A*24MHC class I antigen A*24Human leukocyte antigen A*24HLA-A24HLA-A*24:02

Presents intracellularly derived peptide fragments to CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to initiate an adaptive immune response against infected or malignant cells.