Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors in the regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

VEGFR-1 (Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (KDR) and VEGFR-3 (Flt4) are endothelial specific receptor tyrosine kinases, regulated by members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family, VEGFRs are indispensable for embryonic vascular deve lopment, and are involved in the regulation of many aspects of physiologica l and pathological angiogenesis. VEGF-C and VEGF-D, as ligands for VEGFR-3 are also capable of stimulating lymphangiogenesis and at least VEGF-C can e nhance lymphatic metastasis, Recent studies have shown that missense mutati ons within the VEGFR3 tyrosine kinase domain are associated with human here ditary lymphedema, suggesting an important role for this receptor in the de velopment of the lymphatic vasculature.