Immunogenicity of erythropoietin and other growth factors.
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a 165 amino-acid sequence glycoprotein which plays an important role in maintaining regular generation of erythrocytes, Jacobs et al. describe the cloning of the human EPO and recombinant EPO has been introduced for the treatment of anemia in patients with renal diseases. The extensive utilization of EPO can induce the production of neutralizing EPO antibodies, which have been proved in patients with the non-infectious form of pure red cell aplasia (NI-PRCA), an autoimmune disease characterized by a sudden inhibition of erythrocyte maturation and production. In this review, the literature concerning the molecular structure and the genetic profile of EPO as well as the relationship between neutralizing EPO antibodies and NI-PRCA have been analyzed.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, University of Genoa, Italy.
Francesco
F
Indiveri
Giuseppe
G
Murdaca
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006031:Glycosylation; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D006133:Growth Substances; D007518:Isoantibodies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin