On November 3 2015, the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism published our invited review entitled "Advances in High Density Lipoprotein Physiology: surprises, overturns and promises". In the manuscirpt we provide a historic review of HDL since its discovery in 1920s focusing on the most recent and novel findings correlating HDL properties and functionality with various pathophysiological processes and disease states, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, inflammation and sepsis, bone and obstructive pulmonary diseases, and brain disorders.For details please visit the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.