Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports
5 years ago

Erythropoietin enhances Kupffer cell number and activity in the challenged liver

Ehud Zigmond, Dafna Gilboa, Yankel Gabet, Yasmin Haim-Ohana, Nathalie Ben-Califa, Chen Varol, Max Gassmann, Sahar Hiram-Bab, Drorit Neumann, Debby Reuveni, Naamit Deshet-Unger
Erythropoietin (EPO) is the main hormone driving mammalian erythropoiesis, with activity mediated via the surface receptor, EPO-R, on erythroid progenitor cells. Recombinant human EPO is currently used clinically for the treatment of anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease, and in certain cancer patients suffering from anemia induced either by the tumor itself or by chemotherapy. EPO-R expression is also detected in non-erythroid cells, including macrophages present in the peritoneum, spleen, and bone marrow (BM). Here we demonstrate that Kupffer cells (KCs) - the liver-resident macrophages - are EPO targets. We show that, in vitro, EPO initiated intracellular signalling and enhanced phagocytosis in a rat KC line (RKC-2) and in sorted KCs. Moreover, continuous EPO administration in mice, resulted in an increased number of KCs, up-regulation of liver EPO-R expression and elevated production of the monocyte chemoattractant CCL2, with corresponding egress of Ly6Chi monocytes from the BM. In a model of acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury, EPO administration increased the recruitment of Ly6Chi monocytes and neutrophils to the liver. Taken together, our results reveal a new role for EPO in stimulating KC proliferation and phagocytosis, and in recruiting Ly6Chi monocytes in response to liver injury.

Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-11082-7

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11082-7

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