Erythropoietin (EPO) is the main regulator of red blood cell production but there exists also a variety of nonhematopoietic properties. More recent data show that EPO is also associated with the protection of tissues suffering from ischemia and reperfusion injury as well as with improved regeneration in various organ systems, in particular the skin. This review highlights the mechanisms of EPO in the different stages of wound healing and the reparative processes in the skin emphasizing pathophysiological mechanisms and potential clinical applications. There is clear evidence that EPO effectively influences all wound-healing phases in a dose-dependent manner. This includes inflammation, tissue, and blood vessel formation as well as the remodeling of the wound. The molecular mechanism is predominantly based on an increased expression of the endothelial and inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase with a consecutive rapid supply of NO as well as an increased content of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the wound. The improved understanding of the functions and regulatory mechanisms of EPO in the context of wound-healing problems and ischemia/reperfusion injury, especially during flap surgery, may lead to new considerations of this growth hormone for its regular clinical application in patients.
© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.