Protective effects of erythropoietin against brain injury following stroke / 国际脑血管病杂志

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hematopoietic growth factor that has a specific role on erythroid progenitor cells. Recent studies have suggested that EPO has the important neuroprotective effect on brain damage following stroke, and its major mechanisms include neurotrophy, anti-neuronal apoptosis, inhibition of secondary inflammatory response and excitatory amino acid toxicity, maintenance of vascular integrity and promoting angiogenesis, promoting neurogenesis, as well as anti-oxidative stress.