Apoprotein E(ApoE), a multifunctional protein, participates in many physiological processes such as plasma lipoprotein clearance, cholesterol efflux and reverse transport of lipoid-bearing cells, which reduces the contents of human low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein, thus reducing the probability of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis (As). Based on the understanding of the structure, function and mechanism of ApoE, ApoE mimic peptides provides a new direction for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as As. In this paper, the mechanism of ApoE in cellular cholesterol efflux and cholesterol reverse transport and the research progress of ApoE mimic peptides is mainly reviewed, with a view to providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of As in the future.