Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) 540-548 peptide-HLA-A*02:01 complex (hTERT 540-548/HLA-A*02:01)

The Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) 540-548 epitope, specifically the peptide sequence ILAKFLHWL, is a highly immunogenic tumor-associated antigen presented by the HLA-A*02:01 major histocompatibility complex (Vonderheide et al., 1999, Immunity). hTERT is the catalytic subunit of the telomerase enzyme, which is responsible for maintaining telomere length and is overexpressed in approximately 85-90% of all human cancers, while remaining largely absent in most somatic tissues (Shay & Wright, 2006, Nature Reviews Cancer). This specific peptide-MHC complex serves as a critical target for cancer immunotherapies, including peptide vaccines and T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapies (Parkhurst et al., 2004, Clinical Cancer Research). By targeting this complex, the immune system can selectively identify and eliminate malignant cells that rely on telomerase for replicative immortality. Clinical development of drugs targeting this epitope, such as various hTERT peptide vaccines and DNA vaccines like INO-1400, aims to induce a robust and long-lasting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against a broad range of solid tumors (Vonderheide, 2017, Clinical Cancer Research). Recognition of the complex by CD8+ T cells triggers the release of cytotoxic granules, leading to targeted tumor cell lysis.

Other names

hTERT 540-548ILAKFLHWL peptidehTERT540HLA-A*02:01-restricted hTERT epitopeTelomerase reverse transcriptase 540-548

Activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes through T-cell receptor recognition of the peptide-MHC complex, leading to the lysis of hTERT-expressing tumor cells.