The invention provides a method of reducing CD36 expression in a cell. Themethod comprises contacting the cell with an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide having at least one net positive charge； a minimum of fouramino acids； a maximum of about twenty amino acids； a relationship between theminimum number of net positive charges (pm) and the total number of amino acidresidues (r) wherein 3pm is the largest number that is less than or equal to r+ 1； and a relationship between the minimum number of aromatic groups (a) andthe total number of net positive charges (pt) wherein 2a is the largest numberthat is less than or equal to pt + 1, except that when a is 1, pt may also be1.
