Abstract: Dendritic cells(DCs) are considered to be the most potent antigen presenting cells of the immune system.They also are critical in the initiation of innate immune responses and the regulation of adaptive immune responses.When different physiologically active compounds in foods act towards the gastrointestinal mucosa immunity system,these compounds can be captured and processed by DCs in this system,or can directly be binded to the pattern recognition receptors(PRRs) on DCs,such as TLRs,CLRs and NLRs,and then the corresponding signaling pathways are incluced.These signaling pathways maybe influence the cytokine network in this system.This review aimed to estimate and unveil exhaustively how physiologically active compounds interact with DCs,which possible signaling pathway would be induced,and how the cytokine network could be modulated finally,on the basis of current researches.Adequate understanding of this cause and effect is of directive significance for performance of the biological functions of foods.

Key words: functional food, gastrointestinal mucosa immunity system, dendritic cells, signaling pathway, cytokine network