Atherosclerosis is the common pathological basis of various cardiovascular diseases. A large number of evidences indicate that inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiological process of atherosclerosis. The development of atherosclerosis is regulated by innate and adaptive immune cells, and is closely related to the level of systemic inflammation. A variety of inflammatory factors can be used as predictors of atherosclerosis related cardiovascular diseases, meanwhile, some clinical trials for anti-inflammatory therapy have shown that the risk of cardiovascular events are decreased by reducing the level of systemic inflammatory factors. This article focuses on the role of inflammation, the characteristics of immune response in the development of atherosclerosis, as well as the current progress of clinical research on anti-inflammatory therapy of atherosclerosis, aiming to provide new therapeutic strategies and targets for atherosclerosis.