Human papillomavirus type 16 E7 peptide-HLA-A*0201 complex (HPV16 E7/HLA-A*0201)

The HPV16 E7-derived peptide–HLA-A*0201 complex is a molecular assembly consisting of a specific epitope from the Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 oncoprotein bound to the cleft of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecule HLA-A*0201 (PMID: 10449301). This complex is typically presented on the surface of autologous dendritic cells in the context of cancer immunotherapy to stimulate a robust, antigen-specific immune response. The E7 protein is a critical driver of malignancy in HPV-associated cancers, such as cervical and oropharyngeal carcinomas, by inactivating the retinoblastoma (pRb) tumor suppressor protein (PMID: 12117451). By presenting these viral peptides, dendritic cells prime CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes to recognize and eliminate HPV-infected or transformed cells (PMID: 15150594). Therapeutic strategies involving this complex often utilize ex vivo loading of patient-derived dendritic cells with E7 peptides to overcome immune tolerance and enhance anti-tumor immunity (PMID: 25635005). Challenges in targeting this complex include tumor-mediated immune evasion, such as the downregulation of HLA class I molecules (PMID: 16446374).

Other names

HPV16 E7 (11-20)-HLA-A*0201 complexHPV16 E7 (82-90)-HLA-A*0201 complexE7-MHC class I complexHPV16 E7-loaded autologous dendritic cellsHPV16 E7 peptide-pulsed dendritic cells

Induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses against HPV16-expressing tumor cells through the presentation of viral epitopes.