Erythropoietin gene expression in different areas of the developing human central nervous system

• Published in: Brain research. Developmental brain research Vol. 125; no. 1; pp. 69 - 74
• Main Authors: Dame, Christof, Bartmann, Peter, Wolber, Eva-Maria, Fahnenstich, Hubert, Hofmann, Dietmar, Fandrey, Joachim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 29.12.2000
• Subjects: Brain development; Central Nervous System - chemistry; Central Nervous System - embryology; Central Nervous System - physiology; erythropoietin; Erythropoietin - blood; Erythropoietin - cerebrospinal fluid; Erythropoietin - genetics; Fetus; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Hematopoiesis; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Kidney - chemistry; Kidney - embryology; Liver - chemistry; Liver - embryology; Neurogenesis; Neuroprotection; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Neuroprotection; CNS, central nervous system; Development and regeneration; NIHF, non-immune hydrops fetalis; Hematopoiesis; EPO, erythropoietin; Brain development; EPO-R, erythropoietin receptor; Fetus; GAPDH, glycerol aldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; Neurogenesis; CSF, cerebro-spinal fluid
• ISSN: 0165-3806
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-3806(00)00118-8

Evidence from cell culture and animal experiments suggests a neuroprotective and neurotrophic function of erythropoietin (EPO). We have quantitated the distribution of EPO mRNA expression in the developing human central nervous system (CNS). Patients and Methods: Up to seven biopsies from different areas of the CNS of four preterm fetuses (gestational age 23–37 weeks) were obtained at routine postmortem examinations. EPO mRNA was quantitated by competitive PCR in samples from the CNS, the kidneys, and the liver where the EPO gene is predominantly expressed at this gestational age. Results: EPO mRNA was most abundant in one sample from the cerebellum (0.29 amol/μg total RNA [amol=10 −18mol]) and two from the pituitary gland (0.23 amol/μg total RNA), but levels varied considerably. EPO mRNA in the cortex cerebri (median 0.12 amol/μg total RNA; n=4) dominated over the expression in the corpora amygdala (median 0.05 amol/μg total RNA; n=4), the hippocampus (median 0.03 amol/μg total RNA; n=4), or the basal ganglia (median 0.01 amol/μg total RNA; n=3). Only little EPO mRNA (<0.01 and 0.06 amol/μg total RNA) was found in the spinal cord. EPO mRNA levels in the cerebellum, pituitary gland, or the cerebral cortex were within the same range as in the liver (0.03–1.67 amol/μg total RNA; n=4), or the kidneys (0.06–0.79 amol/μg total RNA; n=4). Conclusion: We found the EPO gene expressed throughout the fetal human CNS. Our data provide the basis to discuss a function for EPO in the brain of humans as well.