T-cell receptor recognizing tick-borne encephalitis virus-derived peptide–MHC complexes (TBEV-specific TCR)

The T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizing tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV)-derived peptide–MHC complexes is a specialized protein complex essential for the adaptive immune system's ability to identify and eliminate TBEV-infected cells. These TCRs, primarily located on CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, bind to specific viral fragments, most notably epitopes from the non-structural protein 3 (NS3), when they are presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules like HLA-A*02:01 (PMID: 29167340). This binding event initiates a signaling cascade that activates the T cell, leading to the targeted destruction of infected host cells and the secretion of antiviral cytokines (PMID: 34571467). While these receptors are a natural part of the immune defense, they are also being investigated as therapeutic targets for TCR-engineered T-cell (TCR-T) therapies designed to treat severe or persistent TBEV infections (PMID: 32661145). A critical challenge in utilizing these TCRs therapeutically is ensuring high specificity to avoid cross-reactivity with human self-antigens, which could result in severe autoimmune reactions or lethal neuroinflammation (PMID: 30104469). Understanding the structural basis of this TCR-pMHC interaction is vital for developing safe and effective immunotherapies against tick-borne flaviviruses.

Other names

TBEV-specific T-cell receptorTick-borne encephalitis virus-specific TCRTBEV pMHC-specific TCRNS3-specific T-cell receptor

The TCR specifically recognizes and binds to viral peptides, such as the NS3_133-141 epitope, presented by MHC class I molecules (e.g., HLA-A*02:01) on the surface of infected cells, triggering T-cell mediated lysis and inflammatory cytokine release (PMID: 29167340, PMID: 34571467).