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Mechanisms of Disease: erythropoietin—an old hormone with a new mission?

Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine volume 3, pages 563–572 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The major physiological function of erythropoietin is the induction of erythropoiesis. A growing body of evidence indicates, however, that this hormone has tissue-protective effects and prevents tissue damage during ischemia and inflammation. This review article summarizes the present knowledge on the cardiovascular and renal protective effects of erythropoietin and discusses the possible underlying mechanisms.

Key Points

  • The physiological function of erythropoietin is the induction of erythropoiesis

  • Erythropoietin prevents tissue damage during ischemia and inflammation

  • These novel properties of erythropoietin have been analyzed in animal models of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and acute and chronic renal failure

  • The tissue-protective effect of erythropoietin might relate to its binding to a different receptor or receptors, or activation of specific intracellular signaling pathways

  • Erythropoietin is a potentially powerful new therapeutic strategy to prevent acute and chronic damage in the cardiovascular system

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Figure 1: Molecular actions of erythropoietin.
Figure 2: The tissue-protective effects of erythropoietin might be explained by three different mechanisms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Danilo Fliser

  2. a postdoctoral fellow and group leader, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Ferdinand H Bahlmann

  3. Chief of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Hermann Haller

  4. Chief of Nephrology at Klinikum Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany

    Kirsten deGroot

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  1. Danilo Fliser
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  2. Ferdinand H Bahlmann
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  3. Kirsten deGroot
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  4. Hermann Haller
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Correspondence to Hermann Haller.

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Competing interests

Danilo Fliser has received honoraria from Roche, Berlin-Chemie and AMGEN. FH Bahlmann has received honoraria from AMGEN and Roche. Hermann Haller has received honoraria from Novartis, Roche, AMGEN, Sankyo, Bayer, MSD, Asche-Chiesi, Menarini and is a consultant for Sankyo.

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Fliser, D., Bahlmann, F., deGroot, K. et al. Mechanisms of Disease: erythropoietin—an old hormone with a new mission?. Nat Rev Cardiol 3, 563–572 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpcardio0609

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