Resolution of inflammation requires precise arrangement of a wide variety of biological functions modulated by various immunocytes and multiple regulatory molecules that form a large network involving various complex mechanisms. In short, “resolution” means the elimination of danger signals that are harmful to the target tissue and restoration of homeostasis. In this context, we will focus on the functional diversity of macrophages in inflammation. The well-illuminated resolution effects of macrophages are their ability to engulf and remove the apoptotic cells, a process termed as efferocytosis. Timely elimination of apoptotic bodies is very important to avoid excessive inflammatory responses, as well as to produce a wide variety of anti-inflammatory molecules and growth factors responsible for tissue repair. On the other hand, phagocytosis refers to specific uptake of invasive pathogens and cell debris, which is always being regarded as the pro-inflammatory property of the host due to release of remarkable number of pro-inflammatory mediators involved in the inflammatory processes. However, in terms of final consequences, macrophage phagocytosis can also contribute to inflammation resolution by initiating and regulating the potential apoptotic pathways. With increasing attention to these two divergent aspects of macrophages, it requires not only understanding of new potential mechanisms, but also more comprehensive exploration of their associations in various molecular pathways, which may lay a foundation for the development of new and effective therapeutic strategies to several inflammatory disorders including autoimmune diseases. © 2004 - 2023 Nova Science Publishers