EPO Production (epo + production)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Regulation of erythropoietin production

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 2005
K.-U. Eckardt
Abstract The glycoprotein hormone erythropoietin (EPO) is an essential growth and survival factor for erythroid progenitor cells, and the rate of red blood cell production is normally determined by the serum EPO concentration. EPO production is inversely related to oxygen availability, so that an effective feedback loop is established, which controls erythropoiesis. Since recombinant EPO became available as an effective therapeutic agent, significant progress has also been made in understanding the basis of this feedback control. The main determinant of EPO synthesis is the transcriptional activity of its gene in liver and kidneys, which is related to local oxygen tensions. This control is achieved by hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIF), consisting of a constitutive ,-subunit and one of two alternative oxygen-regulated HIF, subunits (HIF-1, and HIF-2,). In the presence of oxygen (normoxia) the HIF, subunits are hydroxylated, which targets them for proteasomal degradation. Under hypoxia, because of the lack of molecular oxygen, HIF cannot be hydroxylated and is thereby stabilized. Although HIF-1, was the first transcription factor identified through its ability to bind to an enhancer sequence of the EPO gene, more recent evidence suggests that HIF-2, is responsible for the regulation of EPO. Although EPO is a prime example for an oxygen- regulated gene, the role of the HIF system goes far beyond the regulation of EPO, because it operates widely in almost all cells and controls a broad transcriptional response to hypoxia, including genes involved in cell metabolism, angiogenesis and vascular tone. Further evidence suggests that apart from its effect as an erythropoietic hormone EPO acts as a paracrine, tissue-protective protein in the brain and possibly also in other organs. [source]


A novel endogenous erythropoietin mediated pathway prevents axonal degeneration

ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2004
Sanjay C. Keswani MRCP
Clinically relevant peripheral neuropathies (such as diabetic and human immunodeficiency virus sensory neuropathies) are characterized by distal axonal degeneration, rather than neuronal death. Here, we describe a novel, endogenous pathway that prevents axonal degeneration. We show that in response to axonal injury, periaxonal Schwann cells release erythropoietin (EPO), which via EPO receptor binding on neurons, prevents axonal degeneration. We demonstrate that the relevant axonal injury signal that stimulates EPO production from surrounding glial cells is nitric oxide. In addition, we show that this endogenous pathway can be therapeutically exploited by administering exogenous EPO. In an animal model of distal axonopathy, systemic EPO administration prevents axonal degeneration, and this is associated with a reduction in limb weakness and neuropathic pain behavior. Our in vivo and in vitro data suggest that EPO prevents axonal degeneration and therefore may be therapeutically useful in a wide variety of human neurological diseases characterized by axonopathy. Ann Neurol 2004 [source]


Serum Stem Cell Factor Level in Renal Transplant Recipients With Posttransplant Erythrocytosis

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 12 2009
Ahmet A. Kiykim
Abstract The etiology of posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE) remains unclear, and the most frequently suggested causative factors are still a matter of controversy. We aimed to investigate serum-soluble stem cell factor (sSCF) along with serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with PTE. Thirteen RTRs with PTE, 42 RTRs without PTE, and 42 healthy controls were included. Serum sSCF and EPO levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Expected and observed/expected EPO levels were calculated. Serum sSCF levels and observed/expected EPO were significantly higher in RTRs with PTE than both RTRs without PTE and controls. In RTRs with PTE, sSCF level was significantly correlated with hematocrit and observed/expected EPO, respectively. Significant correlation was also observed between hematocrit level and observed/expected EPO in RTRs with PTE. Increased sSCF level and inadequate suppression of EPO production seem to have a role in the pathogenesis of PTE. [source]


Erythropoietin production rate in phlebotomy-induced acute anemia

BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 9 2004
N.H. Al-Huniti
Abstract Objective. To estimate the rate of erythropoietin (EPO) production under physiological, conditions and to examine the regulatory mechanism of EPO production in response to acute phlebotomy-induced anemia. Methods. Six sheep each underwent two phlebotomies in which the hemoglobin (Hb) was reduced to 3,4 g/dl over 4,5 h. The EPO plasma level, reticulocytes, Hb and EPO clearance were followed by frequent blood sampling. The EPO production rate was determined by a semi-parametric method based on a disposition decomposition analysis that accounts for the nonlinear disposition kinetics of EPO and corrects for time-dependent changes in the clearance. Results. The controlled drop in hemoglobin resulted in an abrupt increase in the plasma EPO concentration (peak level 812 ± 40 mU/ml, mean ± CV%) that was followed by a rapid drop 2,4 days after the phlebotomy at a time when the sheep were still anemic (Hb = 4.3 ± 16 g/dl). The EPO production rate at baseline was 43 ± 52 U/day/kg and the amounts of EPO produced over an 8 day period resulting from the first and second phlebotomy were 2927 ± 40 U/kg and 3012 ± 31 U/kg, respectively. Conclusions. The rapid reduction in the EPO plasma level observed 2,4 days following the phlebotomy cannot be explained solely by the increase in EPO clearance but also by a reduction in EPO production. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


A proteomic approach for identifying cellular proteins interacting with erythropoietin in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 1 2010
Jee Yon Kim
Abstract Identification of the cellular proteins interacting with incompletely folded and unfolded forms of erythropoietin (EPO) in recombinant CHO (rCHO) cells leads to better insight into the possible genetic manipulation approaches for increasing EPO production. To do so, a pull-down assay was performed with dual-tagged (N-terminal GST- and C-terminal hexahistidine-tagged) EPO expressed in E. coli as bait proteins and cell lysates of rCHO cells (DG44) as prey proteins. Cellular proteins interacting with dual-tagged EPO were then resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and identified by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. A total of 27 protein spots including glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) were successfully identified. Western blot analysis of GRP78 confirmed the results of the MS analyses. Taken together, a pull-down assay followed by a proteomic approach is found to be an efficient means to identify cellular proteins interacting with foreign protein in rCHO cells. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source]


Effect of Simultaneous Application of Stressful Culture Conditions on Specific Productivity and Heterogeneity of Erythropoietin in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 4 2004
Sung Kwan Yoon
A single stressful culture condition induced by hypoosmotic stress (210 mOsm kg,1), low culture temperature (32 °C), or NaBu addition (1 mM) resulted in a 1.8- to 2.2-fold enhancement of specific erythropoietin (EPO) productivity (qEPO) of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells compared to normal culture condition (37 °C and 310 mOsm kg,1). Simultaneous application of these stressful conditions further enhanced qEPO up to approximately 5-fold. However, the quality of EPO was affected by stressful culture conditions. The proportion of acidic isoforms of EPO under a single stressful condition was 2.8,13.8% lower than that under normal culture condition. Simultaneous application of the stressful conditions further decreased the portion of acidic isoforms but not significantly. Despite 5-fold enhancement of qEPO, the portion of acidic isoforms under the simultaneous application of stressful culture conditions was 12.9,21.6% lower than that under normal culture condition. Taken together, these results suggest the potential of simultaneous application of different stressful culture conditions to the production phase of two-stage culture, where cell growth and production phases are separated, for improved EPO production. [source]