Caveolae are small invaginations of the plasma membrane found in a variety of cells. The major components of caveolae are cholesterol, sfingolipids and structural proteins named caveolins. Three caveolin isoforms are known: caveolin-1, caveolin-2 and caveolin-3. Adipocytes, endothelial cells, pneumocytes and fibroblasts express caevolin-1 and -2, whereas caveolin-3 expression is limited to muscle cells types. Caveolae and caveolins have diverse functions including vesicular transport, cholesterol homeostasis, signal transduction or tumor suppression. The aim of the present review is to explain what is known about caveolae and caveolins.

        Key words: caveolae, caveolins, functional significance