Optical sensors based on the excitation of surface plasmons, referred to as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors, have become a central analytical tool for characterizing and quantifying a wide variety of macromolecular interactions, like receptor-ligand contacts. Besides this classical field of application, in the last 15 years, the development of SPR sensors aiming for the detection and analysis of ligand/cell or host/pathogen interactions, cell/ cell contacts, and cellular reactions gained considerable momentum. The number of publications reporting about applications of SPR sensors implementing vital prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells as biorecognition elements for medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, or biological safety is steadily growing. This review gives a short introduction to the technique of surface plasmon resonance and the parameters that are important for its application in the field of vital cell sensors. Furthermore, the publications concerning the application of such sensors in the analysis of cellular interactions and cellular reactions to extra-and intracellular stimuli are summarized.