It's a factor in inflammatory response, and heart disease is an inflammatory disease which creates conditions where cholesterols can then bind and cause plaques.

Here's one good talk by Dr. Robert Lustig. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

Here's an overview in a pop-sci article: https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/85169/sweet-revenge-dr-rob...