Caveolae are curved
lipid raft regions rich in
cholesterol and
sphingolipids found abundantly in vascular endothelial cells, adipocytes, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. They are multifunctional organelles with roles in
clathrin-independent endocytosis,
cholesterol transport, mechanosensing and signal transduction. Caveolae provide an environment where multiple receptor signalling components are sequestered, clustered and compartmentalized for efficient signal transduction. Many of these receptors, including
cytokine signal transducer gp130 (
glycoprotein 130), are mediators of chronic
inflammation during
atherogenesis. Subsequently, disruption of these organelles is associated with a broad range of disease states including
cardiovascular disease and
cancer. Cavin-1 is an essential peripheral component of caveolae that stabilizes
caveolin-1, the main structural/
integral membrane protein of caveolae.
Caveolin-1 is an essential regulator of eNOS (
endothelial nitric oxide synthase) and its disruption leads to endothelial dysfunction which initiates a range of cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. Although dysfunctional
cytokine signalling is also a hallmark of
cardiovascular disease, knowledge of caveolae-dependent
cytokine signalling is lacking as is the role of cavin-1 independent of caveolae. The present review introduces caveolae, their structural components, the
caveolins and cavins, their regulation by cAMP, and their potential role in
cardiovascular disease.