Objective/purpose
CD103 (Alpha-E Beta-7 integrin) is expressed on various cell types involved in the development of asthma, including dendritic cells (DCs) and CD4 and CD8 T regulatory cells. This integrin binds E-cadherin on epithelial cells and plays a role in regulating the migration and proliferation of cells. Also, CD103+ dendritic cells have been reported to direct the development of naïve T cells into T regulatory cells. However, little is known about the exact role of CD103 in the development of asthma. The objective of this project is to investigate the role of this integrin in asthma pathogenesis, in the hope of finding new molecular targets for the treatment of asthma.