ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on the proliferation and migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) in rats. Methods The 5th generation BMSCs were divided into the control (without EPO) and 10, 100, 500, 1 000 IU/mL EPO groups. After 24 h and 48 h of culture, the proliferation rate, migration ability and the expression levels of CXCR4 of BMSCs were detected in each group. The 5th generation BMSCs were further divided into BMSC and EPO-BMSC groups. After 48 h of culture, the effect of EPO upon surface markers, directional differentiation and cytoskeleton morphology of BMSCs were evaluated in both groups. Results After theco-culture of EPO and BMSCs for 48 h, the proliferation rate and migration ability of BMSCs were significantly enhanced, and the expression level of CXCR4 protein was significantly up-regulated in the 100 IU/mL and 500 IU/mL EPO groups compared with those in the control group (all P < 0.05). However, EPO exerted no effect upon the expression levels of surface markers and directional differentiation ability of BMSCs in the EPO-BMSC group. In the EPO-BMSC group, the fibrous skeleton of most BMSCs was arranged along the long axis in parallel. Conclusions EPO can improve the proliferation rate, migration ability and tissue repair capability of BMSCs, probably by promoting the directional homing of BMSCs to injured organs and tissues via up-regulating the expression level of CXCR4.