Erythropoietin: its role in the regulation of erythropoiesis and as a therapeutic in humans.

The application of recombinant DNA technology to the field of hematology has contributed greatly to our understanding of Epo gene structure and regulation, cellular expression and regulation of hormone production, pharmacokinetics, receptor biology, and ultimately, the value of this hormone as a therapeutic treatment. Areas that will undoubtedly prove fruitful for future research include the mechanisms by which hypoxia influences gene expression, structure/function relationships of the Epo molecule, mechanisms of transmembrane signaling and nuclear activation, and the application of rHuEpo in the treatment of other anemias. Epo is but one example of the contribution that modern biology has made to the understanding of hematopoietic regulation and to the availability of these regulators for the treatment of human disease.