Characterization of recombinant monkey and human erythropoietin.

We have isolated the human EPO gene from a human genomic lambda library and a monkey EPO cDNA from an anemic monkey kidney cDNA library. These sequences have been expressed in both COS1 and Chinese hamster ovary cells. The expressed EPO has been shown to be fully biologically active both in vitro and in vivo and immunologically identical to the native hormone. In addition, administration of recombinant EPO to animals causes a dramatic increase in their hematocrit.