Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein hormone produced from primarily cells of the peritubular capillary endothelium of the kidney, is responsible for the regulation of red blood cell production. We have been investigating the roles of glycosylation site added in the biosynthesis and function of recombinant protein. In this study, we analyzed by immunohistochemical methods adaptive mechanisms to excessive erythrocytosis in transgenic (tg) mice expressing dimeric human erythropoietin (dHuEPO) gene. Splenomegaly was observed over 11 21 times in the tg mice. The 2,672 candidate spleen‐gderived genes were identified through the microarray analysis method, and decreased genes were higher than increased genes in the spleen. The specific proteins in the increased and decreased genes were analyzed by immunohistochemical methods. Our results demonstrate that problems of abnormal splenomegaly would solve in tg mice overexpressing dHuEPO gene.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS   RESULTS   DISCUSSION   REFERENCES

• Chae-Won Park(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bio. & Information Technology, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 456-749, Korea)
• Sung-Jo Yun(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bio. & Information Technology, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 456-749, Korea)
• Kwan-Sik Min(Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bio. & Information Technology, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 456-749, Korea)