Fig. 1.

The role of caveolae in environmental toxicant-induced endothelial cell dysfunction and modulation by nutrients. Caveolae can mediate the cellular uptake of environmental toxicants, including persistent organic pollutants, which then disrupt the cellular redox status leading to up-regulation of inflammatory mediators. Selected nutrients can reduce a toxicological insult by modulating both caveolae composition and caveolin-1 levels, thus contributing to cellular protection against inflammation. Abbreviations: PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls); PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)