Endothelial transcytosis in health and disease

Cell Tissue Res. 2009 Jan;335(1):27-40. doi: 10.1007/s00441-008-0688-3. Epub 2008 Oct 3.

Abstract

The visionaries predicted the existence of transcytosis in endothelial cells; the cell biologists deciphered its mechanisms and (in part) the molecules involved in the process; the cell pathologists unravelled the presence of defective transcytosis in some diseases. The optimistic perspective is that transcytosis, in general, and receptor-mediated transcytosis, in particular, will be greatly exploited in order to target drugs and genes to exclusive sites in and on endothelial cells (EC) or underlying cells. The current recognition that plasmalemmal vesicles (caveolae) are the vehicles involved in EC transcytosis has moved through various phases from initial considerations of caveolae as unmovable sessile non-functional plasmalemma invaginations to the present identification of a multitude of molecules and a crowd of functions associated with these ubiquitous structures of endothelial and epithelial cells. Further understanding of the molecular machinery that precisely guides caveolae through the cells so as to reach the target membrane (fission, docking, and fusion), to avoid lysosomes, or on the contrary, to reach the lysosomes, and discharge the cargo molecules will assist in the design of pathways that, by manipulating the physiological route of caveolae, will carry molecules of choice (drugs, genes) at controlled concentrations to precise destinations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Endothelial Cells / ultrastructure
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Hyperlipidemias / metabolism*
  • Hyperlipidemias / pathology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Transport Vesicles / ultrastructure