Wilms tumor protein 1 peptide-major histocompatibility complex (WT1 peptide-MHC)

The **Wilms tumor protein 1 peptide-major histocompatibility complex** (WT1 peptide-MHC) is a cell-surface complex formed when a processed peptide fragment from the intracellular Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1)—a transcription factor aberrantly expressed in various cancers—is loaded onto a class I MHC (HLA) molecule and presented on the surface of cancer or antigen-presenting cells[1][5]. This complex is recognized by the T cell receptor (TCR) on CD8+ T cells, enabling the immune system to selectively target tumor cells expressing the WT1 antigen[4][6]. The WT1 peptide-MHC complex is a leading target for cancer immunotherapy, including peptide vaccines and engineered antibodies (TCR-mimics), aiming to harness or boost the anti-tumor immune response. Targeting this complex is the basis for several investigational immunotherapies, but the safety profile depends on minimizing off-tumor, on-target effects and maximizing specificity for malignant cells[6].

Other names

Wilms tumor 1 peptide-HLA complexWT1 epitope-MHC complexWT1 peptide-MHCWT1-derived peptide-MHC

Targeted by T cell receptors (TCRs) or TCR-mimic antibodies, inducing cytotoxic T cell-mediated killing of cells presenting the WT1 peptide-MHC complex[6][1]