Characterization and biological effects of recombinant human erythropoietin.
Human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been purified to apparent homogeneity and compared to purified human urinary erythropoietin (EPO). Both the purified natural and recombinant EPO preparations were characterized in a competition radioimmunoassay (RIA), the exhypoxic polycythemic mouse bioassay, in vitro tissue culture bioassays using bone marrow cells, and by Western analysis. In the immunological and biological activity assays, the rHuEPO shows a dose response which parallels that of the natural hormone. By Western analysis, the recombinant and human urinary EPO migrate identically. Administration of rHuEPO increases the hematocrit of normal mice in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the rHuEPO is able to increase the hematocrit of rats made uremic as a result of subtotal nephrectomy. In summary, by all criteria examined, the rHuEPO is biologically active and equivalent to the natural hormone.
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D051379:Mice; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin