Angiopoietin-like 3(Angptl3)-deficiency results in abnormally low lipid levels in mice. Angptl3-deficient mice showed enhanced very low density lipoprotein(VLDL) clearance compared with wild-type mice. Recombinant human ANGPTL3 protein inhibited lipoprotein lipase(LPL) activity in vitro, suggesting that Angptl3 affects VLDL triglyceride clearance by interfering with LPL activity. Liver X receptor(LXR) ligands and LXR-retinoid X receptor complex increased the promoter activity of Angptl3 gene. LXR ligand treatment did not increased plasma triglyceride levels in Angptl3-deficient mice at all, suggesting that hypertriglyceridemia associated with LXR ligand treatment is due to overproduction of Angptl3. Angptl3-deficiency decreases both plasma lipid levels and aorta atherogenic lesions in apoE-deficient mice, suggesting that repression of ANGPTL3 could decrease plasma lipid levels and could be protective against atherosclerosis.