VEGFR1/Flt-1

VEGFR1/Flt-1 is a VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase that binds VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PlGF, positioning it as a regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor signaling and angiogenesis[1]. Mechanistically, VEGFR1 balances angiogenic output by trapping VEGF-A during embryogenesis while contributing to pathological angiogenesis in adult tissues through macrophage-lineage cell migration and activation[2]. Compared with VEGFR2/KDR, which carries strong tyrosine kinase activity and mediates major endothelial angiogenic signals, VEGFR1 shows weaker kinase activity but higher VEGF-A binding affinity, giving it a distinct modulatory role[3]. VEGFR1 also forms VEGFR1-VEGFR2 heterodimers that support endothelial migration, sustained tube formation, vasorelaxation, and nitric oxide pathway activation without driving proliferation[4]. In disease models, VEGFR1 signaling promotes tumor growth, metastasis, inflammation, and macrophage-associated angiogenesis, while soluble VEGFR1/sFlt-1 acts as an endogenous VEGF inhibitor linked to preeclampsia and proteinuria[5]. For experimental applications, VEGFR1 antagonistic peptides can block VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PlGF binding, inhibit receptor phosphorylation, reduce endothelial tube formation, and suppress neoangiogenesis without interfering with VEGFR2 activation[6].
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