Additional to being accumulated in the subendothelial space and initiating atherosclerosis by changing endothelial permeability8, LDL may exert a direct effect on vascular endothelial cells through activation of LDL receptors and downstream signaling events, e. g. cell proliferation9, apoptosis10,11 or permeability8,12, etc. However, whether LDL affects cellular autophagy remains unknown. The gene discussed is LDLR; the disease is atherosclerosis.