This invention provides novel peptides for the treatment of atherosclerosis. In certain embodiments the peptide is X.sup.1-X.sup.2-X.sup.3-X.sup.4 where X.sup.1 and X.sup.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of alanine (Ala), valine (Val), leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), proline (Pro), phenylalanine (Phe), tryptophan (Trp), methionine (Met), serine (Ser) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, beta-naphthyl alanine, alpha-naphthyl alanine, norleucine, cyclohexylalanine, threonine (Thr) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, tyrosine (Tyr) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, lysine (Lys) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, arginine (Arg) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, ornithine (Orn) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, aspartic acid (Asp) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, cysteine (Cys) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group, and glutamic acid (Glu) bearing a hydrophobic protecting group; X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of Asp, Arg, and Glu; and the peptide converts pro-inflammatory HDL to anti-inflammatory HDL or makes anti-inflammatory HDL more anti-inflammatory.