[Erythropoietin--a review]

Abstract

Erythropoietin is one of the members of the growth factor family. It is a glycoprotein. The sialic acid residues of the carbohydrate part prevent the elimination of the molecule from the circulation. The protein moiety is responsible for its biological activity. The main locus of synthesis of erythropoietin is the kidney, but there exist different concepts about its exact localisation. Most of the erythroid cells will be influenced by erythropoietin, except of the erythrocytes, which do not bind this factor. Besides short latency effects like the stimulation of the hemoglobin synthesis, there also occur long latency effects like the stimulation of the synthesis of different membrane proteins.