Caveolin-1 and liver regeneration: role in proliferation and lipogenesis.

Caveolin-1 is an essential component of caveolae, which form 50-100 nm cell surface plasma membrane invaginations. Caveolin-1 has been previously implicated in the regulation of cellular proliferation and lipogenesis. Current data now suggest that caveolin-1 plays an essential role in the regulation of liver regeneration and that it is implicated in the regulation of triglyceride accumulation, which is an essential process that plays a critical role in the regulation of liver regeneration. These findings are consistent with the importance of a lipogenesis program in the regulation of liver regeneration.