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EPO (aka. erythropoetin or hematopoietin ) is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production. It is a cytokine for erythrocyte (red blood cell) precursors in the bone marrow. It is produced by the peritubular capillary endothelial cells in the kidney, and is the hormone that regulates red blood cell production. It also plays an important role in the brain''s response to neuronal injury and wound healing.

A DNA sequence encoding the human EPO protein sequence (containing the signal peptide sequence, and the mature Epo sequence) was expressed in modified human 293 cells

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone produced primarily by the kidney and is the main regulator of red blood cell production. Its major functions are to promote the differentiation and development of red blood cells and to initiate the production of hemoglobin. EPO acts by binding to a specific erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) present on target cells, the red cell precursors in the bone marrow, stimulating them to transform into mature erythrocytes. Human EPO cDNA encodes a 193 amino acid residue precursor protein that is processed to yield a 165 amino acid residue mature protein. EPO contains one O-linked and three N-linked glycosylation sites. Glycosylation of EPO is required for EPO biological activities in vivo. Recombinant EPO has been approved for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic renal failure, anemia secondary to AZT treatment of AIDS, and anemia associated with cancer. There is recent evidence that recombinant EPO may be useful for cardioprotection and neuroprotection. For recent reviews on EPO, please refer to Bartesaghi S, et al. (2005) Neurotoxicology. 26(5): 923-8; Brines M & Cerami A, (2005) Nat Rev Neurosci. 6(6): 484-94; Engert A, (2005) Ann Oncol. 16(10): 1584-95.