Cellular localization of erythropoietin gene transcription.

Erythropoietin producing cells were identified in the murine hypoxic kidney by in situ hybridization. The positive cells were peritubular cells, most likely endothelial cells of the cortex and outer medulla. Glomerular and tubular cells were not labelled. In three patients with renal adenocarcinomas associated with polycythemia, a strong Epo message was observed on Northern blot analysis. Using in situ hybridization, a strong labelling was observed in all cases on the tumor cells which are of tubular origin.