KDR and systemic lupus erythematosus: Some studies have investigated the relationship between VEGFR2 and autoimmune diseases.[25,26] Vazgiourakis et al revealed that VEGFR2 SNPs may contribute to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis by impairing VEGF signaling, and none of the SNPs analyzed were associated with increased susceptibility to SLE.