DC infection promotes antiviral CTL priming: the ‘Winkelried’ strategy

In addition to the presentation of antigens generated by endogenous neosynthesis, dendritic cells (DCs) can cross-present antigen taken up from the extracellular milieu. However, the relative contribution of these pathways to the priming of antiviral cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses is still elusive. Here, we propose that – in analogy to the sacrifice of the Swiss hero Arnold von Winkelried, who deliberately took into his body the spears of the enemy for the sake of victory – the unique susceptibility of DCs to become infected by a wide range of viruses, even in the absence of the specific virus receptor, serves as a strategy to prime antiviral CTL responses. This could explain CTL priming against viruses that exclusively replicate in peripheral organs.