Neuron-targeted caveolin-1 protein enhances signaling and promotes arborization of primary neurons.

Decreased expression of prosurvival and progrowth-stimulatory pathways, in addition to an environment that inhibits neuronal growth, contribute to the limited regenerative capacity in the central nervous system following injury or neurodegeneration. Membrane/lipid rafts, plasmalemmal microdomains enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipids, and the protein caveolin (Cav) are essential for synaptic development/stabilization and neuronal signaling. Cav-1 concentrates glutamate and neurotrophin receptors and prosurvival kinases and regulates cAMP formation.