Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is defined as myocardial injury caused by the restoration of coronary blood flow after an ischemic epsiode, which leads to severe myocyte metabolic derangements and ultrastructural impairment. The injury also triggers the activation of an inflammatory cascade evidenced by neutrophils accumulating and inflammatory mediators releasing. It has been identified that reperfusion-induced inflammation and excessive production of cytokines can promote myocardial damage during ischemia and reperfusion. Thus modulating the inflammatory response at the onset of reperfusion may represent a potent therapeutic strategy to attenuate the myocardial IRI. Here, we review current advances that the inflammatory response plays an important role in myocardial IRI.