Human leukocyte antigen A*02:01 presenting Hepatitis B virus envelope antigen peptide 183-191 (HLA-A*02:01/HBV ENV183-191)

The HLA-A*02:01 presenting HBV envelope antigen peptide ENV183-191 is a peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) that plays a pivotal role in the immune recognition of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected cells (PubMed: 10438931). This complex consists of the HLA-A*02:01 molecule, a common MHC Class I allele, and a specific 9-amino acid peptide (FLLTRILTI) derived from the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) (PubMed: 25135991). In patients with chronic HBV or HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma, this pMHC is expressed on the surface of hepatocytes and tumor cells, making it an ideal target for precision immunotherapy (Journal of Hepatology, 2022). Therapeutic strategies, such as TCR-engineered T cells (TCR-T), are designed to specifically bind this complex to trigger a cytotoxic immune response against the target cells (SCG Cell Therapy, 2023). Because the ENV183-191 epitope is highly conserved across different HBV genotypes, it is a broadly applicable target for HLA-A*02:01 positive patients (PubMed: 15141001). Clinical development of therapies targeting this complex, such as SCG101, has shown promise in reducing viral load and treating HBV-associated malignancies (ASCO, 2023). However, the development of such therapies requires careful screening for potential cross-reactivity with similar human self-peptides to avoid autoimmune complications (Frontiers in Immunology, 2021). The target represents a shift toward antigen-specific curative approaches for chronic viral infections and their associated cancers.

Other names

HLA-A2/HBV ENV183-191HLA-A*02:01/FLLTRILTIHBV ENV183-191 pMHCHBsAg 183-191/HLA-A*02:01HLA-A*02:01/HBV surface antigen 183-191

T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated recognition of the peptide-MHC complex leading to targeted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation and lysis of HBV-infected or malignant cells.