Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin (or EPO) is a hormone produced in the human kidney and, secondarily, in the liver. It is responsible for the regulation of red blood cell production.

Erythropoietin production is stimulated by the reduction of oxygen in the renal arteries.

The gene which encodes Erythropoietin production was cloned in 1985, and has been succesfully implanted in guinea pigs in order to produce artificial Erythropoietin in the form of Epoetin.