Neuroprotection by Erythropoietin – A Review

Many hematopoietic growth factors are produced locally in the brain. Erythropoietin (EPO) is the principal growth factor regulating the production of red blood cells. Erythropoietin (EPO) isa glycoprotein hormone that acts as major regulator of erythropoiesis.Erythropoietin (EPO) has a dominant role for neuroprotection, neurogenesis and acting as neurotropic factor in the central nervous system.The site of EPO production switches during development from fetal liver to adult kidney, with low-level expression remaining in adult liver. Originally it was believed that the role of EPO was the regulation of erythropoiesis. This role is attributed to the ability of EPO to inhibit programmed cell death (apoptosis) in erythroid cells and thus allow the maturation of erythrocytes. Erythropoietin (EPO) can act on several cell types in different ways. An independent system EPO / EPO receptor (EPOR) was detected in brain, leading to the hypothesis that this hormone could be involved in cerebral functions.EPO/EPOR expression changes during otogenesis, thus indicating the importance of this system in neurodevelopment. Moreover, the hypoxiainduced production of EPO in the adult brain suggests that it could exert a neurotropic and neuroprotective effect in case of brain injury. EPO could also influence neurotransmission inducing neutransmitters (NT) release. So in the coming years, the possibility that human recombinant EPO therapy could soon be used in clinical practice to limit the neuronal damage induced by different disease.