Major histocompatibility complex class I presenting human papillomavirus type 16 E7 epitopes (MHC I-HPV16 E7) (MHC I-HPV16 E7)

The Major histocompatibility complex class I presenting human papillomavirus type 16 E7 epitopes is a molecular complex essential for the immune recognition of HPV-driven malignancies. Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is a high-risk virus responsible for the majority of cervical cancers and a significant portion of oropharyngeal, anal, and vulvar cancers (Source: NIH/NCI). The E7 oncoprotein is constitutively expressed in these cancer cells and is vital for maintaining the malignant state by disrupting cell cycle regulation. Within the cell, E7 is degraded into peptides, such as the immunodominant E7 11-20 epitope, which are then bound by MHC class I molecules (most frequently HLA-A*02:01) and displayed on the cell surface (Source: PubMed, PMID: 26307129). This peptide-MHC complex acts as a specific ligand for T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Therapeutic interventions, including TCR-engineered T-cell therapies (TCR-T) and peptide-based vaccines, are designed to exploit this interaction to selectively eliminate tumor cells (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02858310). For example, CUE-101 is a fusion protein that mimics this complex to activate E7-specific T cells directly in the patient's body. While highly promising, the effectiveness of targeting this complex can be hindered by tumor-mediated MHC downregulation or the potential for TCR cross-reactivity with similar self-peptides found in healthy tissues (Source: Nature Reviews Immunology).

Other names

HLA-A*02:01/HPV16 E7 complexpMHC (HPV16 E7)HPV16 E7 peptide-MHC complexHLA-A2/E7 complexMHC-I/E7 complex

Recognition of the specific peptide-MHC complex by engineered or endogenous T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ T cells, leading to the activation of cytotoxic pathways and the selective lysis of HPV16-positive cells.