New insights into caveolae, caveolins and endothelial function.

A growing body of evidence suggests that the cholesterol-rich invaginations of the plasma membrane, known as caveolae, are essential to cardiovascular homeostasis. The considerable attention devoted to these major plasmalemma macrostructures is attributable to their involvement in compartmentalization and clustering of signalling molecules that contribute to their function in the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. In light of recent developments in caveolae research, a better comprehension of the role of caveolae in the vasculature and how they mediate their activity is needed.