Dendritic cells are one of antigen presenting cells and are thought to play an important role in the establishment of immune responses. However, recent advances in immunology have revealed that there exist several dendritic cell subsets in the skin. In addition, a certain dendritic cell subset is able to regulate cutaneous immune responses. We used contact hypersensitivity as a cutaneous immune response model and review the recent advances in the roles of dendritic cells in contact hypersensitivity. © 2010 The Japan Society for Clinical Immunology.