Caveolin-1 and Atherosclerosis: Regulation of LDLs Fate in Endothelial Cells

Caveolae are 50-100 nm cell surface plasma membrane invaginations observed in terminally differentiated cells. They are characterized by the presence of the protein marker caveolin-1. Caveolae and caveolin-1 are involved in regulating several signal transduction pathways and processes. It is well recognized that they have a central role as regulators of atherosclerosis. Caveolin-1 and caveolae are present in most of the cells involved in the development of atherosclerosis, including endothelial cells, macrophages, and smooth muscle cells, with evidence of either pro- or anti-atherogenic functions depending on the cell type examined. Here, we focused on the role of caveolin-1 in the regulation of the LDLs' fate in endothelial cells.

Automated summary

Caveolae are cell surface plasma membrane invaginations observed in terminally differentiated cells, characterized by the presence of caveolin-1. They play a central role in regulating atherosclerosis and can have both pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic functions depending on the cell type examined. This study focuses on the role of caveolin-1 in regulating the fate of LDLs in endothelial cells.