Erythropoietin
Why do athletes use rEPO?
to increase the bloods O2 carrying capacity and enhance performance (specifically long distance races)
Why is EPO not feasible to isolate from blood for therapeutic use?
It is in low concentration
How much does it cost?
$10,000/year or $1,000/month
When was EPO first noted?
1906
When was EPO first purified
1977
What is EPO molecular weight
30,000 Da
Normal EPO levels
4-27 mU/mL (converts to pmolar range)
What is EPO?
A glycoprotein with 165 amino acids, 4 carbohydrate side chains
Erythropoietin (EPO)
A hormone that promotes the production of red blood cells (RBCs)
Who isolated the EPO gene?
AMGEN in 1983
What name is dEPO sold under?
Aranesp
Who uses rEPO?
Athletes (Illegal)
What animal was it first inserted into for commercial production?
Chinese hamster ovary cells
How is EPO mass produced?
DNA recombinant technology
Normal Hemoglobin levels
Males: 14-18 g/dL Females: 12-16 g/dL
Normal Hematocrit Levels
Males: 40-54% Females: 38-48%
How often are dEPO injections required?
Only requires one injection every few weeks
Who was EPO used to treat?
Patients with anemia
What names is synthetic EPO or rEPO sold under?
Procrit Epogen Eprex NeoRecorman
What types of condition can EPO help?
Renal failure chemotherapy rheumatoid arthritis
How is EPO administered?
Subcutaneously (injected between the skin and muscles) Need several injections a week
How is EPO regulated?
Through feedback inhibition
What is the longer action form of EPO?
darbeopoetin (dEPO)
At what concentration does EPO circulate in blood?
~5 pmol/L
