Although data from animal experiments have suggested that TRAIL have beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, additional clinical evidence is required to establish whether an increased sTRAIL concentration in humans confers vascular protection, or represents a potential pathogenic factor that may further facilitate lesion formation in the presence of hypercholesterolemia, which is a most important risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary arterial disease. The gene discussed is TNFSF10; the disease is familial hypercholesterolemia.