Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the main structural protein of caveolae and plays an important role in
various cellular processes such as vesicular transport, cholesterol homeostasis, and signal
transduction pathways. The expression and functional role of Cav-1 have been reported in
liver and in hepatocyte cell lines, in human cirrhotic liver, and in hepatocellular carcinomas.
Previous studies demonstrated that Cav-1 was dispensable for liver regeneration, because
Cav-1−/− animals survived and fully regenerated liver function and size after partial …