Are ERAD Components Involved in Cross-presentation?

A long unanswered question in the antigen presentation field is how exogenous antigens cross-presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) molecules to CD8(+) T cells are translocated into the cytosol. Here we discuss the known mechanisms involved in this process with a focus on the hypothesized role of the machinery that functions in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). Other potential mechanisms of antigen entry to the cytosol are also discussed.