Erythropoietin’s Beta Common Receptor Mediates Neuroprotection in Spinal Cord Neurons

Erythropoietin (EPO) signaling is an important component of neuroprotection in ischemic reperfusion injury following aortic surgery. EPO also induces hematopoiesis, a fact that has limited its clinical usefulness for treating spinal cord ischemia after aortic surgery. Foley and colleagues tested whether a particular EPO receptor subtype, a heterodimer with the interleukin beta common receptor (βcR), was sufficient for EPO treatment to preserve the viability of oxygen and glucose deprived mouse spinal cord neurons in culture. Their findings suggest that βcR presents a specific target for treating spinal cord ischemia while avoiding hematopoietic side effects.