Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.IBD may be caused by complex interactions between genetic susceptibility,environmental factors,and alterations in the gut microbiota,resulting in dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses.Recent studies have identified macrophages in the intestinal inflammatory response as having the plasticity to not only regulate inflammation,but also to promote tissue repair and healing.As aberrant macrophage polarization occurs during the development of IBD,the balance between the phenotype and function of pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages is regulated by extracellular and intracellular stimuli,and this process is therefore expected to be a potential target for new therapeutic approaches.This article reviewed the progress of research on macrophage polarization in IBD.