Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen HspX-specific T-cell receptor (HspX-specific TCR)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen HspX-specific T-cell receptors are specialized immune receptors found on the surface of T lymphocytes that recognize the HspX protein, also known as the 16 kDa antigen or alpha-crystallin (Acr), of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Geluk et al., 2007). HspX is a dominant heat shock protein produced by the bacterium primarily during its latent or dormant phase, making it a critical target for the host's immune surveillance during long-term infection (Wilkinson et al., 1998). These T-cell receptors (TCRs) bind to HspX-derived peptides presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, triggering T-cell activation and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon-gamma (Shi et al., 2010). In the context of tuberculosis (TB) management, these TCRs are significant for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, serving as potential biomarkers for latent TB infection (Commandeur et al., 2013). They are currently being explored in the development of TCR-engineered T-cell therapies and subunit vaccines, such as ID93/GLA-SE, designed to enhance the immune response against persistent mycobacteria. Understanding the specificity and affinity of these TCRs is essential for designing interventions that can effectively target the reservoir of dormant bacteria that lead to disease reactivation.

Other names

16 kDa antigen-specific T-cell receptorAlpha-crystallin-specific T-cell receptorAcr-specific T-cell receptorRv2031c-specific T-cell receptorMtb HspX-specific TCR

Recognition of HspX-derived peptides presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of infected cells or antigen-presenting cells, which triggers T-cell activation and the subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines to control the infection.