Renoprotective effect of erythropoietin against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in a non-human primate model

Background. The renoprotective effect of erythropoietin (Epo) against ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IR/I) was evaluated in a non-human primate model. Methods. Crab-eating macaques were divided into two groups: Control (n = 10), treated with saline, and EPO (n = 10), treated with Epo. Epo was injected intravenously at a dose of 12 000 units, 5 min before clamping the renal pedicle and 5 min before declamping. Renal IR/I was created by clamping the left renal artery for 90 min following right nephrectomy. Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Ht), creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cystatin C and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured before (Pre) and after (Day 0) the operation, and on post-operative days: Day 1, Day 3, Day 5 and Day 7. Apoptotic cells were counted on Day 1. Results. There were no differences in Hb and Ht between the two groups. Cr, BUN, cystatin C and IL-6 levels in the EPO group were lower than those in the Control group at most of the observation points. The number of apoptotic cells in the Control was significantly higher than that of and EPO group. Conclusions. Epo significantly ameliorates renal IR/I in this non-human primate model. Our findings justify the clinical application of Epo, not only for acute renal failure, but also in transplantation.