What is recombinant erythropoietin used for?
Recombinant human erythropoietins (rHuEPO) are erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) used in the treatment of anemia resulting from chronic kidney disease, treatments for cancer or HIV infection. They are also used perioperatively in some surgical patients.
What is erythropoietin and what is its function?
Erythropoietin, also known as EPO, is a hormone that the kidneys produce to stimulate production and maintenance of crucial red blood cells. The hormone does this in two ways: First, it stimulates bone marrow cells to produce red blood cells.
How is recombinant erythropoietin produced?
rhEPO is produced with the use of cells transfected with either the human EPO gene or EPO cDNA (the coding sequence of the gene) linked to an expression vector (‘recombinant DNA’), which are integrated into the genome of the host cell and stably expressed over time.
Who discovered recombinant erythropoietin?
Eugene Goldwasser
Eugene Goldwasser, the scientist who first purified erythropoietin—the hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells—died from complications related to advanced prostate cancer on Friday, Dec. 17 at his Hyde Park home. He was 88.
Is taking erythropoietin safe?
It is well known that EPO, by thickening the blood, leads to an increased risk of several deadly diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and cerebral or pulmonary embolism. The misuse of recombinant human EPO may also lead to autoimmune diseases with serious health consequences.
What is the normal range for erythropoietin?
Normal Results The normal range is 2.6 to 18.5 milliunits per milliliter (mU/mL). The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples.
Why do the kidneys produce erythropoietin?
The kidney cells that make erythropoietin are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood that travels through the kidney. These cells make and release erythropoietin when the oxygen level is too low.
Why erythropoietin is produced in kidney?
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone that is produced predominantly by specialised cells called interstitial cells in the kidney. Once it is made, it acts on red blood cells to protect them against destruction. At the same time it stimulates stem cells of the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells.
Where is erythropoietin produced?
kidney
The major site of Epo production is the kidney, while the liver is the main extrarenal site of Epo production. Within these organs, the cells synthesizing Epo were identified by using in situ hybridization in hypoxic animals with an increased Epo mRNA expression.
Why was erythropoietin created?
Erythropoietin (EPO) is an amino acid glycoprotein hormone synthesized and secreted by interstitial cells to stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow in response to falling levels of oxygen in the tissues.
Is EPO bad for you?
Where is EPO produced?
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a peptide hormone that is produced by the kidneys in response to hypoxia sensed by pericellular cells positioned in the vasculature of the renal matrix.175.
Why is erythropoietin made in the kidney?
The kidney cells that make erythropoietin are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood that travels through the kidney. These cells make and release erythropoietin when the oxygen level is too low. A low oxygen level may indicate a diminished number of red blood cells ( anemia ), or hemoglobin molecules that carry oxygen through the body.
What is the function of erythropoietin?
The main function of erythropoietin is to stimulate the bone marrow for the production of more red blood cells. The increase in red blood cells increases the capacity of oxygen transport in the blood. Among the main functions of erythropoietin are: Promotes the development of red blood cells.
What is the purpose of an erythropoietin test?
Erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. The resulting rise in red cells increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. As the prime regulator of red cell production, erythropoietin’s major functions are to: Promote the development of red blood cells.