Induction of polyomavirus-specific CD8⁺ T lymphocytes by distinct dendritic cell subpopulations

Dendritic cells are pivotal antigen-presenting cells for generating adaptive T-cell responses. Here, we show that dendritic cells belonging to either the myeloid-related or lymphoid-related subset are permissive for infection by mouse polyomavirus and, when loaded with a peptide corresponding to the immunodominant anti-polyomavirus CD8⁺ T-cell epitope or infected by polyomavirus, are each capable of driving expansion of primary polyomavirus-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses in vivo.