Lipid raft redox signaling platforms in endothelial dysfunction

In response to various stimuli, membrane lipid rafts (LRs) are clustered to aggregate or recruit NADPH oxidase subunits and related proteins in vascular endothelial cells ( ECs), forming redox signaling platforms. These LR signaling platforms may play important roles in the normal regulation of endothelial function and in the development of endothelial dysfunction or injury under pathological conditions. This LR-mediated mechanism now takes center stage in cell signaling for the regulation of many cellular activities or cell function such as ECs redox signaling, phagosomal activity of phagocytes, and cell apopotosis of lymphocytes. This brief review summarizes current evidence that relates to the formation of LR redox signaling platforms and their features in ECs, the functional significance of these signaling platforms in mediating death receptor activation-induced endothelial dysfunction, and the mechanisms initiating or promoting the formation of these platforms. It is expected that information provided here will help readers to understand this new signaling mechanism and perhaps extend the LR signaling platform concept to other research areas related to death receptors, redox signaling, endothelial biology, and cell/molecular biology of the cardiovascular system.