Membrane rafts in endothelial cells and their modulation by proatherogenic stimuli

This brief overview describes the physiology of lipid (membrane) rafts in the vascular endothelium, methods for detection of these domains and perturbations they undergo in pathophysiological conditions associated with cardiovascular disease and development of endothelial dysfunction. Specifically, emphasis is placed on the actions of oxidative stress, proatherogenic lipid mediators, advanced glycation end products and changes in flow and shear stress in perturbations in the expression of components of membrane rafts and signaling through eNOS and receptors localized to them.

Section editor:Michael S. Goligorsky – Renal Research Institute, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA