Biology of the neonate
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Biology of the neonate · Jan 2006
Erythropoietin downregulates bax and DP5 proapoptotic gene expression in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Perinatal asphyxia is an important cause of neonatal mortality and subsequent serious sequelae such as motor and cognitive deficits and seizures. The ameliorative effect of erythropoietin (Epo) on experimental hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats has been recently reported. Recent studies also confirm the antiapoptotic effect of Epo in a variety of in vitro and in vivo neuronal injury models including hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. However, molecular mechanisms of Epo protection and antiapoptotic effect in this model are unclear. Epo may exert its antiapoptotic effect via the differential regulation of the expression of genes involved in the apoptotic process. ⋯ These results suggest that Epo exerts a neuroprotective effect against hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, at least partially, via the differential regulation of the expression of genes involved in apoptotic process.