Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) possibly lie in a dysregulated response of the intestinal mucosal immune system towards intestinal microflora under a combined action of genetic and environmental factors.Mucosal dendritic cells are assumed to play key roles in regulating immune responses in the antigen-riched intestinal environment, either by initiating immune responses or by maintaining tolerance. Defects in this regulation are supposed to lead to IBD. This paper reviews the recent research advances in the relationship between IBD and dendritic cells.