Understanding how the outer surfaces of cells keep blood vessels healthy

Functions of endothelial caveolae

Blood vessels are made from special cells called endothelial cells. These cells have many small folds in the outer surface, called ‘caveolae’ (which means ‘little caves’ in Latin). Although there are many caveolae in endothelial cells, we do not understand precisely what they do. We know they are important for the health of the heart and blood vessels because people who lack the genes for making caveolae have pulmonary hypertension, cannot perform exercise and can have heart rhythm problems. The BHF has awarded a grant to Dr Ben Nichols and his team in Cambridge to find out what caveolae do and how they function in endothelial cells. Firstly, they will find out if caveolae can flatten out when blood pressure increases in the smallest blood vessels, allowing endothelial cells to stretch and the blood vessel to relax to buffer cells against the increased pressure. Secondly, they will work out if caveolae can move from one side of the endothelial cell to the other, carrying nutrients and other substances to the surrounding tissues. This research will reveal how caveolae keep endothelial cells healthy and may reveal how caveolae could be involved when these cells don’t function properly in different diseases.