Function and Dysfunction of the Caveolar Network in Cell Signaling and Human Disease: An Update after 70 Years of the Discovery of Caveolae

Dear Colleagues,

Caveolae (i.e., 50 to 80 nm cholesterol- and glycosphingolipid-rich, flask-shaped invaginations discovered nearly 70 years ago) have been observed in many differentiated cells. Unlike lipid rafts, whose existence remains quite elusive in living cells, caveolae are ordinarily detectable via conventional electron microscopy techniques. The unique biochemical composition of caveolae confers on them a marked resistance to solubilization by nonionic detergent, which permits the separation of these organelles from the rest of the cellular components. However, only following the discovery of the first genuine molecular marker of caveolae, i.e., caveolin-1 in the early 1990s, has the research in this field grown rapidly. Caveolin-1, encoded by the CAV gene family, is usually found coexpressed with caveolin-2 in the majority of the cell types, while the third member of the family, caveolin-3, is predominantly expressed in striated muscle cells. The ability of the caveolin scaffolding proteins to interact with a variety of signaling molecules has strongly encouraged many groups to focus on these fascinating and enigmatic structures. More than 60 years of investigation on the caveolar membrane system have strongly contributed to extending and enhancing our knowledge of the crucial cellular mechanisms, including vesicular transport, endocytosis, cholesterol homeostasis, signal transduction, cell metabolism, and cancer.  However, although the generation of caveolin knockout animals has strongly contributed to deepening the biological role of the caveolar network in vivo, many issues related to the mechanisms regulated by caveolins, both under physiological and pathological conditions, remain open. The aim of this Special Issue is to gather up-to-date results that may expand our knowledge around the multifaceted role of caveolae and caveolin proteins in cell dysfunction and human diseases. Both research and review articles related to the current state of the art in this field are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Alessio D'Alessio
Guest Editor

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