Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (CD26, DPP4) is a multifunctional protein involved in T-cell activation by co-stimulation via its association with ADA, Caveolin-1, CARMA-1, CD45, M6P/IGFII-R and CXC-R4. The proline-specific dipeptidyl peptidase also modulates the bioactivity of several chemokines. However, a number of enzymes displaying either DPP4-like activities or representing structural homologs have been discovered in the past two decades and are referred to as DPP4 activity and/or structure homolog (DASH) proteins. Apart from DPP4, DASH proteins include fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP), dipeptidyl peptidase 8 (DPP8), dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9), dipeptidyl peptidase 4-like protein 1 (DPL1, DPP6, DPPX L, DPPX S), dipeptidyl peptidase 4-like protein 2 (DPL2, DPP10) from the DPP4-gene family S9b and structurally unrelated enzyme dipeptiyl peptidase 2 (DPP2), displaying DPP4-like activity. In contrast, DPP6 and DPP10 lack enzymatic DPP4-like activity. These DASH proteins play important roles in the immune system involving quiescence (DPP2), proliferation (DPP8/DPP9), antigen presenting (DPP9), co-stimulation (DPP4), T-cell activation (DPP4), signal transduction (DPP4, DPP8 and DPP9), differentiation (DPP4, DPP8) and tissue remodelling (DPP4, FAP). Thus, they are involved in many pathophysiological processes and have therefore been proposed for potential biomarkers or even drug targets in various cancers (DPP4 and FAP) and inflammatory diseases (DPP4, DPP8/DPP9). However, they also pose the challenge of drug selectivity concerning other DASH members for better efficacy and/or avoidance of unwanted side-effects. Therefore, this review unravels the complex roles of DASH proteins in immunology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.