Melanoma-associated antigen C2 peptide–MHC complex (MAGE-C2–pMHC)

The MAGE-C2-derived peptide–MHC complex is a molecular assembly consisting of a peptide fragment from the Melanoma-associated antigen C2 (MAGE-C2) bound to a Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecule, typically HLA-A2. MAGE-C2 is a cancer-testis antigen (CTA) that is highly expressed in several malignancies, including melanoma, prostate cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, while its expression in normal tissues is restricted to the immune-privileged testis (UniProt P43367). When this complex is presented on the surface of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), it serves as a potent signal for the activation and priming of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. This interaction is a cornerstone of various immunotherapeutic approaches, such as pDC-based vaccines and T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapies, which aim to direct the immune system to recognize and eliminate MAGE-C2-expressing tumor cells (PMID: 24501215). The therapeutic focus on this complex is driven by its high tumor specificity and the ability of pDCs to induce robust immune responses. However, the effectiveness of these therapies is contingent upon the patient's HLA profile and the density of the complex on the cell surface.

Other names

MAGE-C2-pMHCCT10-pMHCMAGE-C2/HLA complexMAGE-C2-derived peptide–MHC complex on plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Activation of antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes through T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition of the peptide-MHC complex presented on the cell surface.