Innate immune recognition of pathogens triggers both immediate defenses against the invading pathogens and the initiation of adaptive immune responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in sensing and processing microbial information and directing the differentiation of naïve lymphocytes to effector cells suitable against particular types of infections. These processes within DCs are intricately controlled at the levels of the cell, anatomical location, migration and their interaction with other cell types. This review focuses on recent understanding of the contributions of several key cell types, which regulate, and are regulated by DCs, in the generation of adaptive immune responses.