Atherosclerosis is recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease of the artery wall, in which monocytes/macrophages plays a key role in its development. The migration ability of monocytes/macrophages is damaged in atherosclerotic plaque, and retained in plaque. This increases plaque instability and accelerates the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Recent studies show that neural guidance factor netrin-1, secreted by macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque, can inhibit macrophage migration out of plaque and promote the progress of atherosclerosis, through binding to receptors on the surface of macrophages. However, in the early stage of atherosclerosis, netrin-1 expressed in vascular endothelial cells is found to play a protective role in atherosclerosis.