Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of erythropoietin on the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by TGF-β. Methods Cultivated rats CFs were divided into three groups: Control group, TGF-βgroup: the final concentration of TGF-βwas 5 μg/L, recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) treatment group: added TGF-βafter incubation with 5000U/L rhEPO for one hour. After 24 hours, CFs proliferation was determined by MTT assay and cell counting; Immunocytochemistry and western blot were conducted to observeα-SMA expression; The hydroxyproline concentration of CFs was assessed by hydroxyproline kit; CollagenⅠ，Ⅲ and MMP-2，MMP-9 synthesis of CFs were deteched by Western blot. Results Compared with control group, TGF-βpromoted the CFs proliferation and transformation (P<0.05); and TGF-βinduced increase synthesis of collagenⅠand collagen Ⅲ as well as MMP-2 and MMP-9 in CFs (P<0.05); After EPO intervention, CFs proliferation and transformation were decreased (P<0.05), collagenⅠand collagen Ⅲ synthesis were reduced (P<0.05), but the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Physiological dose EPO inhibits rat CFs proliferation, transformation and collagen production, in addition, EPO promoted collagen degradation.

Key words: Key words: Erythropoietin, myocardial fibrosis, cardiac fibroblasts