History of Lipidology

The history of lipidology started in the eighteenth century with the discovery of cholesterol crystals in bile. However, the linkage of blood cholesterol to atherosclerosis did not occur until early in the twentieth century with the seminal work by Nikolai Anitschkow documenting foam cell formation in cholesterol-fed rabbits. In the twentieth century, multiple Nobel prizes were awarded for delineating the cholesterol synthetic pathway, which led to the discovery of the low-density lipoprotein receptor, which ultimately yielded statin therapy; this has markedly reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Human mutations resulting in modifications of lipid metabolism have now ushered in an era of novel therapeutics such as PSCK9 inhibitors as well as other potential targets that may ultimately provide the ability to eradicate the leading cause of global mortality, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.