Erythropoietin (EPO)[1] is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis—the production of red blood cells. Within the bone marrow, it functions as a cytokine (a protein signaling molecule) that acts upon red blood cell precursor cells. Human erythropoietin has a molecular weight of 34 kDa and is synthesized and secreted by the liver and kidneys. In infants and young children, it is primarily produced by the liver, whereas in adults, it is mainly synthesized by the kidneys. EPO also serves other biological functions; for instance, it plays an important role in the brain's response to neurological injury and is involved in the wound-healing process.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone composed of 193 amino acids. Its primary function is to regulate the production of red blood cells. In adults, EPO is produced mainly by the kidneys, while in newborns, it is produced by the liver.

The primary function of EPO is hematopoiesis (blood cell formation), which serves to maintain a constant level of oxygen in human body tissues. The rate of EPO secretion is inversely proportional to the concentration of oxygen in the blood.

This occurs because the kidneys contain specialized cells known as REPOS cells. These cells are capable of sensing changes in blood oxygen levels and secreting EPO to regulate the number of red blood cells, thereby adjusting the oxygen content in the blood.[2]

The Production and Function of Erythropoietin

How, then, do REPOS cells perceive this information? Consider this: blood circulates continuously throughout the body, undergoing gas exchange in the lungs, where red blood cells acquire oxygen. This oxygenated blood subsequently flows through the kidneys. The kidneys are divided into two distinct regions: an outer cortex and an inner medulla.

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