The erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) is a transmembrane protein critical for regulating red blood cell production. It binds erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone produced in the kidney, triggering intracellular signaling cascades (primarily JAK2-STAT pathways) that promote erythroid progenitor cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. EPOR is predominantly expressed in erythroid lineage cells but has also been detected in non-hematopoietic tissues, including the brain, heart, and cancer cells, where its role remains less defined.
EPOR dysfunction or aberrant signaling is linked to diseases such as polycythemia vera (a myeloproliferative disorder) and certain cancers. Mutations in EPOR or associated signaling molecules (e.g., JAK2) can lead to constitutive activation, driving uncontrolled cell growth. EPOR antibodies are essential tools for research and diagnostics, enabling detection of receptor expression via techniques like Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. They help study EPOR's physiological roles, pathological mechanisms, and therapeutic targeting.
Therapeutic anti-EPOR agents have been explored to block abnormal signaling in cancers or EPO-resistant anemias, though clinical applications remain limited due to off-target effects. Research continues to clarify EPOR's dual roles in erythropoiesis and disease, with antibodies remaining pivotal in elucidating its complex biology.