Tumor-associated antigen peptides presented on MHC class I and II of dendritic cells (TAA-pMHC)

Tumor-associated antigen (TAA) peptides presented on MHC class I and II molecules of dendritic cells (DCs) represent the fundamental unit of immune recognition for anti-tumor T-cell responses. Dendritic cells, acting as professional antigen-presenting cells, internalize TAAs from the tumor microenvironment or therapeutic vaccines and process them into immunogenic peptides (Banchereau & Steinman, 1998, Nature). These peptides are displayed on MHC class I molecules to prime CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and on MHC class II molecules to activate CD4+ helper T cells, a process known as cross-presentation and endogenous presentation (Roche & Furuta, 2015, Nat Rev Immunol). This target is the basis for dendritic cell-based immunotherapies, such as Sipuleucel-T, which aim to induce a specific and durable immune attack against malignant cells (Kantoff et al., 2010, N Engl J Med). By presenting a diverse array of TAAs, DCs can potentially overcome tumor heterogeneity and stimulate a multi-clonal T-cell response. However, the efficacy of targeting these complexes can be limited by tumor-mediated immunosuppression or the downregulation of MHC molecules by cancer cells (Garrido et al., 2016, Cancer Immunol Immunother).

Other names

Tumor-associated antigen-MHC complexpMHC complex on dendritic cellsDC-presented tumor antigensPeptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes

Activation of tumor-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) through the presentation of peptide-MHC complexes, leading to the expansion of cytotoxic and helper T-cell populations.