The incidence of stroke in China has increased year by year, and carotid stenosis is one of the main causes of stroke. With the development of atherosclerotic inflammatory mechanisms, cytokines closely related to chronic inflammatory response are increasingly important in the study of carotid plaque pathogenesis. For carotid stenosis, it is important to fully understand the various cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This article reviews the new understanding and research direction of several common cytokines in the process of carotid artery plaque lesions.