Microparticles are small vesicles with a diameter ranging from 0.1 to 1 μm that fall off from cell membranes through germination when cells are activated or apoptotic. Microparticle contains proteins, cytokines, mRNA, microRNA and other substances, and exerts a variety of biological functions. Microparticle plays an important role in endothelial cell dysfunction, inflammation, and smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. High-level microparticles in circulation are not only biomarkers of vascular injury in atherosclerosis patients, but also potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets of atherosclerosis. This review focuses on the role of microparticle in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, and sums up the related research progresses at the cellular level.