LGR4, LGR5 (Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein- coupled receptor 4 and 5) are two related membrane receptors with pleotropic functions in organ development and tumorigenesis. Loss-of-function mutations in LGR4 in humans is associated with low bone density, abnormal female reproductive systems and other traits while knockout of Lgr4 in the mouse led to developmental defects with phenotypes similar to those of human mutation. Knockout of Lgr5 in the mouse led to neonatal lethality due to tongue defects. In adult tissues, LGR4 is widely expressed in epithelial tissues, particularly in proliferating cells, whereas LGR5 is expressed mostly in stem cells in the gastrointestinal tract and the skin. Both Lgr4 and Lgr5 are expressed in mouse intestinal stem cells, yet only Lgr4 is essential for the survival and self-renewal of the stem cells and the integrity of the intestine. In some tissues, deletion of Lgr5 alone had no effect but enhanced the effect of Lgr4 knockout, suggesting that Lgr4 and Lgr5 plays similar roles in organ development and tissue maintenance with Lgr4 having a dominating role.