促红细胞生成素对视神经视网膜的保护作用

促红细胞生成素(Erythropoietin,EPO)主要作用于骨髓巨核前体细胞,刺激红系造血祖组织及早幼红细胞形成成熟的红细胞集落。近年来,大量的研究显示EPO和EPO受体在神经系统上有功能表达,在体外培养及动物试验中都显示了显著的神经保护功能。在眼科,青光眼、视网膜脱离、视网膜色素变性等疾病的共同病理机制是视网膜神经节细胞、光感受器细胞等神经元的凋亡,最终导致视力的丧失。因此,EPO的神经保护作用对治疗这些疾病有一定的实际意义。现总结了EPO的神经保护性质分子机制及信号传导途径,探讨EPO用于青光眼视神经保护治疗的基础和可能性。

Neuroprotective properties of erythropoietin on neuro-retinopathy

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hematopoietic growth factor and cytokine which stimulates erythropoiesis. In recent years, Epo has been shown to have important nonhematopoietic functions in the nervous system. A wide variety of experimental studies have shown that EPO and its receptor (EPOR) are expressed in the nervous system and EPO exerts remarkable neuroprotection in cell culture and animal models of nervous system disorders. The apoptosis of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) and photoceptor cell are common causes of reduced visual function in several ocular diseases, including glaucoma, retinal detachment, retinal pigmental degeneration, etc. EPO may be a potent neuroprotective therapeutic agent for the treatment of ocular disease that are characterized by RGC and photoceptor cell death. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge on the neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties of EPO, the mechanisms by which EPO produces neuroprotection and the signal transduction systems regulated by EPO in the nervous system, which may represent the potential basis for future strategies against neuronal injury.