Caveolin-1 regulates cellular cholesterol homeostasis and its potential as an atherosclerosis therapy target

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by lipid accumulation within the arterial wall, with disrupted cholesterol homeostasis serving as a central pathogenic driver. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), the core structural component of caveolae, plays a multifaceted role in regulating cellular cholesterol metabolism. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding Cav-1's diverse functions, including its domain-specific roles in cholesterol binding, transcriptional regulation of lipid synthesis, facilitation of triglyceride storage, and coordination of cholesterol efflux via interactions with ABCA1 and ABCG1. Cav-1 also governs lipoprotein endocytosis and transcytosis in endothelial cells, contributing to subendothelial lipid deposition. Beyond lipid trafficking, Cav-1 modulates autophagic pathways-either suppressing or enhancing autophagy depending on cellular context-and exerts dual effects on vascular inflammation and immune cell recruitment. Genetic models reveal that both Cav-1 overexpression in plaque-resident cells and endothelial Cav-1 deficiency can confer atheroprotection, highlighting its context-dependent roles. Importantly, recent studies have identified specific protein-protein interactions involving Cav-1 (e.g., with ABCA1 and ABCG1) as pharmacologically actionable nodes. Small molecules such as curcumin and probucol metabolites modulate Cav-1 expression or disrupt its interactions to enhance reverse cholesterol transport and stabilize plaques. This review integrates these findings to propose Cav-1 as a context-specific, precision therapeutic target in atherosclerosis.