The salient findings of the present study are that: (1) severe hypercholesterolemia in C57BL/6 LDLr−/− mice is unexpectedly associated with improved wound healing; (2) in contrast, hypercholesterolemic C57BL/6 apo E−/− mice are characterized by delayed wound healing; and (3) topical HDL therapy corrects delayed wound healing in C57BL/6 apo E−/− mice. This evidence concerns the gene AOPEP and familial hypercholesterolemia.