The ability of the CD103+ RDC subset to preferentially present antigen to CD8+ T cells both during infection and after viral vaccine instillation into the respiratory tract, along with the localization of this RDC subset within the airway mucosa, makes this DC subset a potentially important candidate cell type for further analysis in the study of respiratory disease pathogenesis and in mucosal vaccine development. This evidence concerns the gene ITGAE and respiratory system disorder.