Surprisingly, contrary to what was expected from TG-lowering effect of ApoC3 deficiency in the context of severe refractory hypercholesterolemia, our findings showed that DKO hamsters displayed accelerated atherosclerotic plaques with more lipid-load macrophage accumulation in the lesions, which was independent of gender. The gene discussed is APOC3; the disease is familial hypercholesterolemia.