Erythropoietin crosses the blood–brain barrier to protect against experimental brain injury
ML Brines, P Ghezzi, S Keenan… - Proceedings of the …, 2000 - National Acad Sciences
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2000•National Acad Sciences
Erythropoietin (EPO), recognized for its central role in erythropoiesis, also mediates
neuroprotection when the recombinant form (r-Hu-EPO) is directly injected into ischemic
rodent brain. We observed abundant expression of the EPO receptor at brain capillaries,
which could provide a route for circulating EPO to enter the brain. In confirmation of this
hypothesis, systemic administration of r-Hu-EPO before or up to 6 h after focal brain
ischemia reduced injury by≈ 50–75%. R-Hu-EPO also ameliorates the extent of concussive …
neuroprotection when the recombinant form (r-Hu-EPO) is directly injected into ischemic
rodent brain. We observed abundant expression of the EPO receptor at brain capillaries,
which could provide a route for circulating EPO to enter the brain. In confirmation of this
hypothesis, systemic administration of r-Hu-EPO before or up to 6 h after focal brain
ischemia reduced injury by≈ 50–75%. R-Hu-EPO also ameliorates the extent of concussive …
Erythropoietin (EPO), recognized for its central role in erythropoiesis, also mediates neuroprotection when the recombinant form (r-Hu-EPO) is directly injected into ischemic rodent brain. We observed abundant expression of the EPO receptor at brain capillaries, which could provide a route for circulating EPO to enter the brain. In confirmation of this hypothesis, systemic administration of r-Hu-EPO before or up to 6 h after focal brain ischemia reduced injury by ≈50–75%. R-Hu-EPO also ameliorates the extent of concussive brain injury, the immune damage in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and the toxicity of kainate. Given r-Hu-EPO's excellent safety profile, clinical trials evaluating systemically administered r-Hu-EPO as a general neuroprotective treatment are warranted.
National Acad Sciences