Signaling via vascular endothelial growth factor receptors

Angiogenesis, or development of blood vessels from preexisting vasculature, has important functions under both normal and pathophysiological condition s. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1-3, also known as fit-1, K DR, and flt-4, are endothelial cell-specific receptor tyrosine kinases whic h serve as key mediators of the angiogenic responses. The review focuses on the signaling pathways that are initiated from these receptors and the rec ently identified VEGF coreceptor neuroplilin-1. (C) 1999 Academic Press.