Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease, which is the main pathological basis of many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and one of the main causes of death. Macrophages are the main immune cells in AS plaques and are closely related to the progression of the disease. Their biological characteristics, phenotype proportion, and secreted cytokines determine the stability, size, and lesion progression of AS plaques. Therefore, macrophages are considered a powerful target for treating AS. This article elaborates on the polarization characteristics of macrophages, the potential molecular mechanisms of macrophage regulation of AS, and the impact of targeted regulation of macrophage polarization on AS, in order to provide theoretical basis for further research on the molecular mechanisms of AS pathogenesis and improve its therapeutic effect.

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