Erythropoietin bioassays

The most popular bioassay of erythropoietin (EPO) involves a mouse-based bioassay [EPO stimulates red blood cell (RBC) production, making it useful in the treatment of certain forms of anaemia Chapter 6]. Basically, the EPO-containing sample is administered to mice, along with radioactive iron ( Fe). Subsequent measurement of the rate of incorporation of radioactivity into proliferating RBCs is undertaken (the greater the stimulation of RBC proliferation, the more iron is taken up for haemoglobin synthesis). 

No rodent bioassay No tumorigenic or unexpected mitogenic response observed in any tissue type No binding to human tissues other than those expressing the erythropoietin receptor No alteration of proliferative response of non-hematological cells in vitro or in vivo Not genotoxic (Ames, in vitro chromosomal aberration, in vivo mouse MN)... 

Wei X, Swanson S J, Gupta S (2004). Development and validation of a cell-based bioassay for the detection of neutralizing antibodies against recombinant human erythropoietin in clinical studies. J. Immunol. Methods. 293 115-126. 

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