Macrophage can polarize two subtypes, pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2,which affect the development process of atherosclerosis through regulatory inflammation. Studies suggest, although macrophage polarization plays an important role in pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, it is not clear that mechanism of regulatory macrophage polarization determines the outcome of inflammation in atherosclerosis. In this review, we can provide a new direction of preventing atherosclerosis and controlling inflammation through influence factors of macrophage polarization in atherosclerotic inflammation.