Comparative assay of erythropoietin standards

Evidence for a hepatic-renal antagonism in the production of hepatic erythropoietin in a phenylhydrazine-induced compensated hemolytic state in the rat

A compensated hemolytic state was induced in rats by injection of phenylhydrazine (PHZ) over a 6-week period. The liver and kidney were perfused to determine the levels and time of appearance of a hepatic erythropoietic factor (HEF) which induces the production of hepatic erythropoietin (Ep) and its antagonist, a renal inhibitory factor (RIF). Erythropoietin assays on the perfusates have been previously reported. The amount of HEF in perfusates recovered from the livers of the PHZ-treated rats was significantly higher during the 4th to 5th weeks of treatment, coinciding with the time of increased liver production of Ep. During the 6th week of PHZ treatment, the titer of RIF in perfusates recovered from the kidney was markedly increased and the HEF titer was decreased to near the control level, suggesting inhibitory action of RIF on HEF synthesis and/or effect. These findings indicate that an HEF/RIF control mechanism regulates hepatic Ep production in this compensated hemolytic condition.

The influence of pancreatic hormones and diabetogenic procedures on erythropoietin production

The influence of the pancreas on renal and extrarenal erythropoietin (Ep) production and on the elaboration of the hepatic erythropoietic factor (HEF) was studied in these experiments. Insulin was found to elevate Ep levels in the anephric hypoxic rat when compared to controls, whereas glucagon treatment augmented the hepatic Ep response to hypoxia in the subtotally hepatectomized (hepx) animal while lowering it in the renal intact rat. Production of experimental diabetes either through chemical induction by alloxan or following pancreatectomy diminished the Ep response in all groups tested. Treatment with antiglucagon caused an elevation in the Ep response to hypoxia in the intact rat but lowered Ep levels in the hepx animal. In addition, glucagon and a synthetic hepatotrophic agent (L-histidyl L-lysine acetate) stimulated HEF production in the hepx rat, although none of the agents tested were capable of enhancing HEF levels in the intact rat.

Hepatic erythropoietin (Ep) production following double partial hepatectomy in the rat

Double partial hepatectomy (hepx) evokes an elevation in serum erythropoietin (Ep) levels in anephric hypoxic animals when compared to non-hypoxic or sham hepx controls. But this Ep response is significantly lower than that found in singly hepx, anephric hypoxic rats. Double hepx also induces numerous cytological changes in the liver. Extravascular accumulation of fat, fibrous scarring, localized necroses, and multiple abscesses, as well as decreased vascularity, occur following the second hepx. A humoral factor was detected in the serum of these animals that is capable of inducing hepatic Ep production when injected into normal rats 18 hours before nephrectomy and hypoxia. This factor, termed hepatopoietin (Hp), was previously demonstrated in the venous serum of singly hepx rats. The serum from animals subjected to double partial hepx is not as potent in inducing Ep production as the serum from singly hepx animals. The discrepancies noted between the single and double hepx groups is attributed to the necrotic cytological changes described above.

Evidence for a sexual variation in production of a hepatic erythropoietic factor by hepatectomized rats

Erythropoietin (Ep) is a glycoprotein hormone that is responsible for mammalian red blood cell production. Adult rat liver regenerating 48-72 h after hepatectomy (hepx) produces elevated levels of Ep in response to hypoxia when compared to sham-operated, anephric hypoxic controls. A factor, termed hepatopoietin (Hp), found in the serum of hepx rats, is capable of stimulating hepatic Ep production when administered to normal rats 18 h prior to hypoxic exposure. Although the hepatic vein is the most potent source of this factor, Hp can also be demonstrated in the systemic arterial circulation. Bilateral nephrectomy (nephrx) of the donor hepx animal 24 h prior to bleeding abolishes this variation, and highest Ep levels are noted when serum from a hepx and nephrx rat is administered to animals immediatley after nephrx and 18 h before hypoxic exposure. Serum derived from hepx male rats displays a greater ability to evoke hepatic Ep production in normal recipients than serum from similarly treated female rats. Regardless of the sex of the hepx donor, Ep elaboration after hypoxia is highest in male recipients. The results indicate that there is a sexual variation in the production of Hp as well as Ep.

Reticuloendothelial system (RES) hyperfunction and erythropoietin (Ep) production in the regenerating liver

Hepatic cells in rats were evaluated after subtotal hepatectomy using scintillation scanning with technetium sulfur colloid (TSC), autoradiography, and microstereology techniques. The ability of the liver to accumulate TSC increased during the course of the regeneration as did the labeling of Kupffer and parenchymal cells with tritiated thymidine (3H-tdR). Kupffer to parenchymal cell number ratios and Kupffer cell relative areas were also elevated, attaining peak values at 72 hours post-hepatectomy. This period corresponds to the time of peak erythropoietin (Ep) production in rats with regenerating livers after nephrectomy and exposure to hypoxia. These findings suggest that the Kupffer cell may function as a cellular site of Ep formation.

Cell-cell interaction in erythropoiesis. Role of human monocytes

Erythroid burst forming units (BFU-E) are proliferative cells present in peripheral blood and bone marrow which may be precursors of the erythroid colony forming cell found in the bone marrow. To examine the possible role of monocyte-macrophages in the modulation of erythropoiesis, the effect of monocytes on peripheral blood BFU-E proliferation in response to erythropoietin was investigated in the plasma clot culture system. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal human donors were separated into four fractions. Fraction-I cells were obtained from the interface of Ficoll-Hypaque gradients (20-30% monocytes; 60-80% lymphocytes); fraction-II cells were fraction-I cells that were nonadherent to plastic (2-10% monocytes; 90-98% lymphocytes); fraction-III cells were obtained by incubation of fraction-II cells with carbonyl iron followed by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation (>99% lymphocytes); and fraction-IV cells represented the adherent population of fraction-II cells released from the plastic by lidocaine (>95% monocytes). When cells from these fractions were cultured in the presence of erythropoietin, the number of BFU-E-derived colonies was inversely proportional to the number of monocytes present (r = -0.96, P < 0.001). The suppressive effect of monocytes on BFU-E proliferation was confirmed by admixing autologous purified monocytes (fraction-IV cells) with fraction-III cells. Monocyte concentrations of >/=20% completely suppressed BFU-E activity. Reduction in the number of plated BFU-E by monocyte dilution could not account for these findings: a 15% reduction in the number of fraction-III cells plated resulted in only a 15% reduction in colony formation. These results indicate that monocyte-macrophages may play a significant role in the regulation of erythropoiesis and be involved in the pathogenesis of the hypoproliferative anemias associated with infection and certain neoplasia in which increased monocyte activity and monopoiesis also occur.

Erythropoietin dependent erythropoiesis during the erythroblastic phase of juvenile chronic granulocytic leukaemia

A child aged 3 1/2 years with typical juvenile chronic granulocytic leukaemia whose course terminated in an erythroblastic phase is described. Both in-vivo transfusion studies and in-vitro bone marrow culture studies indicate that red cell production remains erythropoietin dependent in this situation. The relationship of erythropoietin to the reversion to fetal haematopoiesis which characterizes juvenile chronic granulocytic leukaemia is discussed.

Age-related variations in hepatic regeneration and erythropoietin production in the rat

Erythropoietin (Ep) is produced mainly by the liver and spleen during fetal and neonatal periods and by the kidney during adolescent and adult life. The liver is also an important extrarenal producer of Ep in the hypoxic, anephric adult animal. Subtotal hepatectomy results in a substantial elevation in serum Ep levels at 30-72 hours after hepatectomy in rats subsequently nephrectomized and rendered hypoxic. Ep production is related to the mass of regenerating liver with peak Ep production occurring during times of greatest tissue proliferation. Regenerative and erythropoietic responses to hepatectomy decline with advancing age. Rats undergoing repeated hepatectomies do not recover full liver mass but the initial rate of regeneration increases following each successive hepatectomy. Ep levels decline in anephric hypoxic rats undergoing multiple hepatectomies when compared to sham-operated controls.

Erythroid colony formation by polycythemia vera bone marrow in vitro. Dependence on erythropoietin

In the plasma clot culture system both normal and polycythemia vera (PV) bone marrow cells respond to erythropoietin (Ep), giving rise to large numbers of colonies of erythroid cells. In PV, but not in normal individuals, the marrow produced endogenous erythroid colonies (EED) in the absence of exogenous Ep. The number of EEC formed varied from patient to patient comprising anywhere from 6 to 29% of the total number of colonies formed in the presence of Ep. Exposure, before use in culture, of fetal calf serum and citrated bovine plasma to the gammaglobulin fraction of rabbit anti-Ep serum followed by treatment with goat anti-rabbit gamma-globulin re sulted in a significant decrease in EEC formation. Addition of anti-Ep directly to the culture medium produced similar results. In addition, the production of EEC in response to added Ep was inhibited in the presence of anti-Ep. Addition of very small doses of highly purified Ep to anti-Ep-treated cultures resulted in the reappearance of a significantnumber of EEC formation in PV may be due to a population of erythroid-committed precursors that are abnormally sensitive to small concentrations of Ep which may be present in fetal calf serum and citrated plasma. Although the mechanism of formation of these cells is not known, it appears that the final steps in the formation of red cells derived from this clone of precursors is subject to the usual Ep control.

Inappropriate erythropoietin secretion in polycythemia vera

A patient with classical polycythemia vera (PV) was found to have an inappropriately elevated serum erythropoietin (Ep) level. Investigations did not reveal any lesion or blood abnormality known to be associated with excessive Ep production and erythrocytosis. Sudden withdrawal of blood to reduce the Hb and Hct from 18.5 gm% and 56% to 13.6 gm% and 41.5%, respectively, resulted in an increment of serum Ep to abnormal level. With iron treatment there was a brisk return of Hb and Hct to prebleeding levels which was associated with reduction in the serum Ep. The inverse relationship between the Ep and Hb or Hct is inconsistent with the presence of excessive Ep-producing lesion. These results suggested that the threshold for Ep secretion from normal Ep-secreting tissue to Hb and Hct levels is set at an abnormal level. This patient's marrow cells when cultured in vitro in the absence of Ep, unlike other PV patients' (except one) marrow cells, did not grow erythroid colonies. In the presence of Ep, however, the colonies comparable to those formed from normal marrow cultures were obtained. These results suggested that his marrow erythropoietic cells were neither Ep independent nor Ep-hyperresponsive, as has been suggested by some investigators for erythropoiesis in PV. This patient presents phenomena that hitherto have not been reported.

Erythropoietin production in cultures of goat renal glomeruli

Cultures initiated with isolated goat-kidney glomeruli produce erythropoietin over periods of 7 months. Production seems dependent upon a minimum interval of about 30 days between changes of medium. Experiments distinguishing between erythropoietin, renal activator, and serum substrate support the conclusion that the factor released to the medium of long-term glomerular cultures is erythropoietin itself. The system offers promising opportunities for studying regulation of erythropoietin production, and possibly could be developed as a source of significant quantities of the hormone.

Renal erythropoietic factor: role of ions and vasoactive agents in erythropoietin formation

Evidence is provided for the existence of a renal erythropoietic factor, devoid of vasopressor activity, which upon interaction in vitro with normal serum yields erythropoietin. When undialyzed serum is used, erythropoietin inactivation develops in the incubation mixtures, and this inactivation appears to be dependent on an enzymatic component in preparations of the factor and on ions in serum.