Human EPO

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a 34 kDa glycoprotein hormone in the type I cytokine family and is related to thrombopoietin. EPO is primarily produced in the kidney by a population of fibroblast-like cortical interstitial cells adjacent to the proximal tubules. EPO promotes erythrocyte formation by preventing the apoptosis of early erythroid precursors which express the erythropoietin receptor (EPO R). EPO R has also been described in brain, retina, heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, endothelial cells, and a variety of tumor cells. EPO additionally plays a tissue-protective role in ischemia by blocking apoptosis and inducing angiogenesis (1-5).