Erythropoietin (EPO) plays a vital role in the regulation of red blood cell production. It interacts with EPO receptor and is responsible for the cellular responses. EPO is expressed in various types of cancers, such as breast cancer, renal cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and central nervous system tumors. EPO also acts as a hypoxia responsive cytokine and a pro-angiogenic factor. This protein provides major neuroprotective effect against brain damages due to ischemia and enhances memory as well as cognitive ability in humans suffering from vascular dementia.
