VEGFR & PDGFR

VEGFR and PDGFR are families of transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases that play central roles in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, cell proliferation, migration, and survival. VEGFRs (VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3) primarily regulate the response to vascular endothelial growth factors, controlling endothelial cell function and blood vessel formation. PDGFRs (PDGFRα, PDGFRβ) respond to platelet-derived growth factors, influencing connective tissue, vascular smooth muscle, and fibroblast biology. Both families signal via ligand-induced dimerization, resulting in autophosphorylation and activation of intracellular signaling cascades such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK. Therapeutic targeting of these receptors is critical in cancer, fibrosis, and retinal vascular diseases, and pharmacologic inhibition has proven effective but presents challenges related to safety and patient selection. The term 'VEGFR & PDGFR' incorrectly combines two distinct receptor families; for structured databases, these should be treated as separate entities.

Other names

Kinase insert domain receptor (KDR)Fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk-1)VEGF receptorPDGFRαPDGFRβPlatelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha/beta

Receptor inhibition (blocking ATP binding of the kinase domain to prevent phosphorylation); Ligand binding inhibition (antibody-based inhibition of the VEGF ligand); Signal transduction blockade (prevention of downstream PI3K/AKT, MAPK, PLC-γ1 pathway activation); Dimerization inhibition (prevents autophosphorylation needed for receptor activation)