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Table 1 All published studies investigating the efficacy of asialo-EPO in pre-clinical models of disease

From: Bench-to-bedside review: Erythropoietin and its derivatives as therapies in critical care

Species

Model

Dose

Route

Drug protocol

Outcome

Similar efficacy with EPO

Reference

Rat

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

44 μg/kg

IV

On reperfusion

Neuroprotection

Yes

[20]

Rat

Spinal cord compression

10 μg/kg

IV

After compression

Neuroprotection

Yes

[20]

Rat

Sciatic nerve crush

50 μg/kg

IV

24 h or 15 minutes pre-treatment, or after nerve crush

Neuroprotection

Yes

[20]

Rat

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

80 μg/kg

IP

4 h pre-treatment

Neuroprotection

Yes

[55]

Rat

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

40 μg/kg

IP

24 h and 4 h pre-treatment

No protection

Yes

[55]

Rat

Spinal cord compression

10 μg/kg

IV

24 h pre-treatment

Neuroprotection

Yes

[56]

Mouse

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

32 μg/kg

IP

3 times per week for 9 weeks

Neuroprotection

Yes

[57]

Rat

Kainite-induced cell death of primary dissociated anterior horn cultures, in vitro

2.5 pmol/ml

NA

72 h pre-treatment

Tissue protection

Yes

[57]

Mouse

Bi-lateral renal ischemia/reperfusion

2.5 μg/kg

SC

30 minutes pre-treatment

Renoprotection

Yes

[21]

Rat

Contrast-induced nephropathy

80 μg/kg

IV

1 h pre-treatment

Renoprotection

Yes

[58]

NA

Contrast-induced cell death of LLC-PK1 cultures, in vitro

25 ng/ml

NA

1 h pre-treatment

Tissue protection

Yes

[58]

Rat

Intestine ischemia/reperfusion

5 μg/kg

SC

10 minutes pre-treatment, 30 minutes into ischemia and on reperfusion

Intestinal protection

Yes

[22]

Rat

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

20 μg/kg/day

IV infusion

Started on reperfusion for 4 days

Neuroprotection

Yes

[59]

Mouse

Uni-lateral renal ischemia/reperfusion with diabetes

15 μg/kg

SC

30 minutes pre-treatment

Renoprotection

Yes

[60]

Gerbil

Bi-lateral common carotid artery occlusion

50 μg/kg

IP

3 h pre-treatment, on reperfusion and 24 h into reperfusion

Neuroprotection

Yes

[61]

Mouse

5/6 nephrectomy with subsequent heart failure

23 μg/kg

SC

Twice a week for 4 weeks after establishment of renal dysfunction

Cardioprotection

Yes

[62]

Rat

Lumbar disc herniation

13.4 μg/kg

SC

1 day pre-treatment and daily for 2 weeks

Reduced pain related behavior

Yes

[63]

  1. It is evident that derivatives of erythropoietin (EPO) are protective to a similar degree, at similar doses, as EPO. These comparisons can be made, in this instance, since all of the studies listed here were conducted with an additional control group with EPO. Asialo-EPO, as well as EPO, is beneficial in several different species and disease targets associated with the brain, spinal cord, kidney, heart and intestine via multiple routes of administration. For comparison, EPO at 5,000 IU/kg = 25 μg/kg = 714 pmol/kg and for asialo-EPO at 23 μg/kg = 714 pmol/kg. EPO, erythropoietin; IP, intraperitoneal; IV, intravenous; NA, not applicable; SC, subcutaneous.