Identification of a TAP-independent, immunoproteasome-dependent CD8+ T-cell epitope in Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2.
Lautscham G., Haigh T., Mayrhofer S., Taylor G., Croom-Carter D., Leese A., Gadola S., Cerundolo V., Rickinson A., Blake N.
We have identified an HLA-A2-restricted CD8(+) T-cell epitope, FLYALALLL, in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2), an important target antigen in the context of EBV-associated malignancies. This epitope is TAP independent, like other hydrophobic LMP2-derived epitopes, but uniquely is dependent upon the immunoproteasome for its generation.