Characterization of Erythropoietin and Hepcidin in the Regulation of Persistent Injury-Associated Anemia

Abstract

Introduction

The cause of persistent injury-associated anemia is multifactorial and includes acute blood loss, an altered erythropoietin (EPO) response, dysregulation of iron homeostasis, and impaired erythropoiesis in the setting of chronic inflammation/stress. Hepcidin plays a key role in iron homeostasis and is regulated by anemia as well as inflammation. EPO is a main regulator of erythropoiesis induced by hypoxia. A unique rodent model of combined lung injury (LC)/hemorrhagic shock (HS)/chronic restraint stress (CS) was utilized to produce persistent injury-associated anemia to further investigate the roles of EPO, hepcidin, iron, ferritin, and the expression of EPO receptors (EPOr).

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into one of the four groups of rodent models: naïve, CS alone, combined LCHS, or LCHS/CS. Plasma was used to evaluate levels of EPO, hepcidin, iron, and ferritin. RNA was isolated from bone marrow and lung tissue to evaluate expression of EPOr. Comparisons between models were performed by t-tests followed by one-way analysis of variance.

Results

After seven days, only LCHS/CS was associated with persistent anemia despite significant elevation of plasma EPO. LCHS and LCHS/CS led to a persistent decrease in EPOr expression in bone marrow on day seven. LCHS/CS significantly decreased plasma hepcidin levels by 75% on day one and 84% on day seven as compared to LCHS alone. Hepcidin plasma levels are inversely proportional to EPO plasma levels (Pearson R=-0.362, p<0.05).

Conclusion

Tissue injury, hemorrhagic shock, and stress stimulate and maintain high levels of plasma EPO while hepcidin levels are decreased. In addition, bone marrow EPOr and plasma iron availability are significantly reduced following LCHS/CS. The combined deficit of reduced iron availability and reduced bone marrow EPOr expression may play a key role in the ineffective EPO response associated with persistent injury-associated anemia.