These guidelines are a consensus work of a considerable number of members of the immunology and flow cytometry community. They provide the theory and key practical aspects of flow cytometry enabling immunologists to avoid the common errors that often undermine immunological data. Notably, there are comprehensive sections of all major immune cell types with helpful Tables detailing phenotypes in murine and human cells. The latest flow cytometry techniques and applications are also described, featuring examples of the data that can be generated and, importantly, how the data can be analysed. Furthermore, there are sections detailing tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid, all written and peer‐reviewed by leading experts in the field, making this an essential research companion.

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Recent data from murine models have confirmed that Langerhans cells are not the only population of APCs in the skin involved in initiating immune responses. In healthy human skin, we identify CD1a+ dermal APCs located close to the lymphatic vessels in the upper layers of the dermis that are unequivocally distinct from migrating Langerhans cells but exhibit both potent allostimulatory capacity and a chemotactic response to CCR7 ligands. In contrast, CD14+ dermal APCs are distributed throughout the dermis and lack a chemotactic response to CCR7 ligands. CD1a+ dermal APCs therefore represent an APC population distinct from Langerhans cells that are capable of migrating to lymph nodes and stimulating naive T cells. In humans, CD1a+ dermal APCs may fulfill some of the roles previously ascribed to Langerhans cells.