KDR and Nephropathy: Through its receptor in the proximal tubule, estrogen controls phosphate balance and contributes to kidney repair and regeneration.[43–45] Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 is the protein that KDR encodes, and its stimulation can result in or exacerbate kidney damage.[46] A VEGFR2 kinase inhibitor was used by Lavoz C et al[47] to cure mouse diabetic nephropathy.