Erythropoietin crosses the blood-brain barrier to protect against experimental brain injury

Erythropoietin (EPO), recognized for its central role in erythropoiesis, also mediates neuroprotection when the recombinant form (r-HuEPO) is directly injected into ischemic rodent brain. We observed abundant expression of the EPO receptor at brain capillaries, which could provide a route for circulating EPO to enter the brain. In confirmation of this hypothesis, systemic administration of r-Hu-EPO before or up to 6 h after focal brain ischemia reduced injury by approximate to 50-75%. R-Hu-EPO also ameliorates the extent of concussive brain injury, the immune damage in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and the toxicity of kainate, Given r-Hu-EPO's excellent safety profile, clinical trials evaluating systemically administered r-HuEPO as a general neuroprotective treatment are warranted.