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