Erythropoietin up-regulates SOCS2 in neuronal progenitor cells derived from SVZ of adult rat

We examined the effects of EPO on expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) and found that treatment of neural progenitor cells derived from the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) with recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) stimulated progenitor cell differentiation into neurons, but not astrocytes. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that SOCS2 mRNA levels were increased in the progenitor cells treated with rhEPO. Immunostaining showed that neurons but not astrocytes were SOCS2 immunoreactive. Incubation of the progenitor cells with rhEPO in the presence of a neutralizing antibody against EPO abolished the effects of EPO on neuronal differentiation and expression of SOCS2. Our data suggest that up-regulation of SOCS2 in neuronal progenitor cells derived from the adult SVZ may regulate EPO enhanced neuronal differentiation.