Interstitial fibroblasts in the vicinity of the proximal convoluted tubule and the peritubular capillary of the kidney produce erythropoietin.
It is a hormone necessary for the creation of red blood cells.
Its main function in red blood cell progenitors and precursors is to prolong their survival by shielding them from apoptosis, or cell death.
Additionally, some investigations have indicated that it has a neuroprotective impact on diabetic neuropathy; however, clinical experiments on the deep peroneal, superficial peroneal, tibial, and sural nerves did not support these results.
It is a hormone that encourages the creation and maintenance of red blood cells and is largely produced in the kidneys.