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Darbepoetin alfa, a long-acting erythropoietin analog, offers novel and delayed cardioprotection for the ischemic heart.

Recent studies from our lab and others have shown that the hematopoietic cytokine erythropoietin (EPO) can protect the heart from ischemic damage in a red blood cell-independent manner. Here we examined any protective effects of the long-acting EPO analog darbepoetin alfa (DA) in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rats were subjected to 30-min ischemia followed by 72-h reperfusion. In a dose-response study, DA (2, 7, 11, and 30 mug/kg) or vehicle was administered as a single bolus at the start of ischemia. To determine the time window of potential cardioprotection, a single high dose of DA (30 mug/kg) was given at either the initiation or the end of ischemia or at 1 or 24 h after reperfusion. After 3 days, cardiac function and infarct size were assessed. Acute myocyte apoptosis was quantified by TUNEL staining on myocardial sections and by caspase-3 activity assays. DA significantly reduced infarct size from 32.8 +/- 3.5% (vehicle) to 11.0 +/- 3.3% in a dose-dependent manner, while there was no difference in ischemic area between groups. Treatment with DA as late as 24 h after the beginning of reperfusion still demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size (17.0 +/- 1.6%). Consistent with infarction data, DA improved in vivo cardiac reserve compared with vehicle. Finally, DA significantly decreased myocyte apoptosis and caspase-3 activity after I/R. These data indicate that DA protects the heart against I/R injury and improves cardiac function, apparently through a reduction of myocyte apoptosis. Of clinical importance pointing toward a relevant therapeutic utility, we report that even if given 24 h after I/R injury, DA can significantly protect the myocardium.