Dendritic cells (DCs) are known as the most powerful professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). DCs could efficiently uptake, process and present antigens to T cells. During this process, DCs upregulate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) typeⅠand type Ⅱ molecules, costimulatory molecules and adhesion molecules, providing costimulatory signal to T cell activation, in order to trigger the adaptive immune response. In recent years, studies of the DC surface markers revealed a more detailed classification of DC subsets, which also contributed to research progress of the biological function of different DC subsets of DCs. DCs have dual role in the initiation of immune response. On the one hand, DCs can promote the activation of adaptive immune response to clear pathogens; on the other hand, DCs can induce immune tolerance through induction of regulatory T cells. In addition, DCs may also facilitate the virus infection by capturing some virus particles and transporting to their target cells. The functional complexity makes DCs become a research hotspot of immune response. In this paper, recent research progression related to the above fields is reviewed.