Update in immune regulatory dysfunction of dendritic cells in sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Further development of sepsis usually leads to septic shock or even death. Many previous studies have focused on the abnormal reactions of monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, complement system, or cytokine inflammation in sepsis. Many evidences in recent years suggest that dendritic cells, as the most powerful antigen-presenting cells in innate immune system of body, play important role during the process of immune disorders of sepsis. In this article, I review the main classification, immune function, monitoring method, regulatory pathways of dendritic cells and their clinical significance in immune disorders of sepsis, so as to find new strategies for immune regulation of sepsis.