Caveolae: molecular insights and therapeutic targets for stroke.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Caveolae are specialized plasma membrane micro-invaginations of most mammalian cell types. The organization and function of caveolae are carried out by their coat proteins, caveolins and adaptor proteins, cavins. Caveolae/caveolins physically interact with membrane-associated signaling molecules and function in cholesterol incorporation, signaling transduction and macromolecular transport/permeability.

AREAS COVERED:

Recent investigations have implicated a check-and-balance role of caveolae in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Caveolin knockout mice displayed exacerbated ischemic injury, whereas caveolin peptide exerted remarkable protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive synopsis of how caveolae/caveolins modulate blood-brain barrier permeability, pro-survival signaling, angiogenesis and neuroinflammation, and how this may contribute to a better understanding of the participation of caveolae in ischemic cascade. The role of caveolin in the preconditioning-induced tolerance against ischemia is also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION:

Caveolae represent a novel target for cerebral ischemia. It remains open how to manipulate caveolin expression in a practical way to recapitulate the beneficial therapeutic outcomes. Caveolin peptides and associated antagomirs may be efficacious and deserve further investigations for their potential benefits for stroke.

• Authors: Lili Xu, Ruibing Guo, Yi Xie, Minmin Ma, Ruidong Ye, Xinfeng Liu
• Journal: Expert opinion on therapeutic targets (Expert Opin Ther Targets) Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pg. 633-50 (May 2015) ISSN: 1744-7631 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25639269 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Caveolins

Topics

• Animals
• Blood-Brain Barrier (metabolism)
• Brain Ischemia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Caveolae (metabolism)
• Caveolins (genetics, metabolism)
• Drug Design
• Humans
• Mice
• Molecular Targeted Therapy
• Reperfusion Injury (physiopathology)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Stroke (drug therapy, physiopathology)