Influenza virus peptide–Human Leukocyte Antigen complex (pHLA)

Influenza virus peptide–Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) complexes are molecular structures formed when viral proteins are processed into short peptides and displayed on the cell surface by HLA molecules [PubMed: 25692560]. These complexes are the primary targets for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which recognize the specific peptide-HLA combination via their T-cell receptors (TCRs) to initiate the destruction of infected cells [NIH: PMC4701654]. Because these complexes can present highly conserved internal viral proteins, such as the Matrix 1 (M1) or Nucleoprotein (NP), they are considered high-priority targets for "universal" influenza vaccines and next-generation immunotherapies [Nature Communications, 2018]. Therapeutic strategies include the use of TCR-engineered T cells and TCR-like antibodies that can distinguish between infected and healthy cells with high precision [Frontiers in Immunology, 2020]. However, the clinical application of these therapies is complicated by the extreme diversity of HLA alleles in the human population and the potential for lethal cross-reactivity with similar human self-peptides [StatPearls: HLA Typing].

Other names

Influenza peptide-MHC complexInfluenza pMHCFlu peptide-HLA complexInfluenza antigen-HLA complex

Therapeutic agents such as engineered T-cell receptors (TCRs) or TCR-like antibodies bind specifically to the viral peptide presented within the HLA groove, facilitating a targeted cytotoxic immune response against infected cells [PubMed: 25692560].