Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein hormone, which is primarily produced by interstitial fibroblasts in the kidney in response to hypoxia. Its main mode of action involves binding to erythropoietin receptors on the surface of erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow, thereby initiating a signaling cascade that results in the proliferation and differentiation of these progenitors into mature red blood cells. Erythropoietin’s primary application is in the treatment of anemia, particularly associated with chronic kidney disease, chemotherapy, or certain other medical conditions. By enhancing red blood cell production, it helps restore normal levels of hemoglobin, alleviating symptoms such as fatigue and improving oxygen transport throughout the body. Erythropoietin is also used in some cases to reduce the need for blood transfusions in surgical patients or to treat anemia in preterm infants. In research settings, it serves as a model for studying erythropoiesis and its regulatory mechanisms.