Human leukocyte antigen A*02:01–Cytomegalovirus Immediate-Early 1 peptide complex (HLA-A*02:01–IE-1)

The HLA-A*02:01–Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Immediate-Early 1 (IE-1) peptide complex is a peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) class I molecule consisting of the HLA-A*02:01 allele and a specific epitope derived from the CMV IE-1 protein, most commonly the VLEETSVML (316-324) nonamer (Source 1.2.1, 1.4.1). This complex is expressed on the surface of CMV-infected cells and serves as a critical recognition element for the cellular immune system (Source 1.4.4). Specifically, it is recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which triggers the release of perforin and granzymes to eliminate the infected cell (Source 1.3.1, 1.3.4). In clinical settings, this complex is a primary target for adoptive T-cell therapies and TCR-engineered T cells (TCR-T) designed to treat or prevent CMV reactivation in immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplantation (Source 1.3.3, 1.3.4). Additionally, it is targeted by novel TCR-like antibodies and used as a biomarker in tetramer-based assays to monitor CMV-specific immune reconstitution (Source 1.3.1, 1.4.5). Therapeutic challenges include CMV-mediated immune evasion through HLA downregulation and the risk of off-target cross-reactivity with self-peptides (Source 1.4.4).

Other names

HLA-A*02:01-VLEETSVML complexpMHC complex (HLA-A*02:01/IE-1)CMV IE1 (316-324) HLA-A*02:01 complexHLA-A2-CMV IE1 complex

Recognition by T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ T cells, leading to activation and lysis of CMV-infected cells; or binding by TCR-like antibodies to redirect immune effectors.