Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGF R3), also known as FLT-4, together with the other two members VEGFR1 (FLT-1) and VEGFR2 (KDR/Flk-1) are receptors for vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and belong to the class III subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). VEGF R3 mediates lymphangiogenesis in response to VEGF-C and VEGF-D. VEGF R3 is widely expressed in the early embryo but becomes restricted to lymphatic endothelia at later stages of development. It is likely that VEGF R3 may be important for lymph angiogenesis.
