title: Protective effects of erythropoietin in cardiac ischemia: from bench to bedside.
abstract: Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hypoxia-induced hormone produced in the kidneys that stimulates hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. However, recent studies have also shown important nonhematopoietic effects of EPO. A functional EPO receptor is found in the cardiovascular system, including endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. In animal studies, treatment with EPO during ischemia/reperfusion in the heart has been shown to limit the infarct size and the extent of apoptosis. In the longer term, EPO may promote ischemia-induced neovascularization, either by stimulating endothelial cells in situ or by mobilizing endothelial progenitor cells from bone marrow. The effects of EPO in the ischemic heart support the concept of EPO as a pleiotropic, tissue-protective agent for other organs expressing the EPO receptor. We recently performed a first randomized clinical study showing the safety and feasibility of EPO administration in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Future clinical studies are warranted to translate the beneficial effects of EPO from basic experiments to cardiac patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lipsic
authors.forename: Regien G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Schoemaker
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Adriaan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Voors
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen
authors.forename: Wiek H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Gilst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin; D004921:Erythropoietin