Weizmann Institute unravels red blood cell production mystery.
Scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a rare subset of kidney cells, named "Norn cells," that are the main producers of erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone that controls red blood cell production. The discovery has significant potential for anemic patients and could lead to the development of new therapies. The identification of these cells may have an impact rivaling that of the discovery of the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells in the 1950s.