HDL-cholesterol levels in plasma predict the risk of cardiovascular disease, but a direct causal role for HDL in cardiovascular disease remains controversial. In this Review, Rosenson et al. discuss the opportunities afforded by an integrated approach that combines human genetic studies with systems biology to understand the complex metabolism of HDL and its potential atheroprotective properties.
- Robert S. Rosenson
- H. Bryan Brewer Jr
- Robert A. Hegele