Fig. 1

Erythropoietin activates NF-κB RELA in human NCSCs. A: NCSCs were derived from the inferior turbinate of the human nasal cavity. B: NCSCs derived from both sexes express human Erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R). EPO-R and GAPDH bands were cropped on top of each other. C: 2.5 U/ml EPO supplementation during cultivation significantly increased the doubling time of female NCSCs. Additionally, 5 U/ml EPO reduced the doubling time of male NCSCs compared to 2,5 U/ml EPO treatment. D, E: Immunocytochemistry revealed a strong nuclear translocation of NF-κB after 30 min of 1 U/ml EPO exposure in male and female NCSCs. F: Fold change of nuclear RELA fluorescence intensity is significantly increased in NCSCs derived from male donors after treatment for 30 min with 0.5 and 1 U/ml EPO. G: Fold change of nuclear RELA fluorescence intensity is significantly increased in NCSCs derived from female donors treated with 1 U/ml EPO for 30 min. H: After treatment of male NCSCs with 1 U/ml EPO for one week, the differentiating cells show a strong decrease of NF-κB RELA staining. I: In contrast, female NCSCs treated with 1 U/ml EPO for one week showed a strong increase of NF-κB RELA. Mann-Whitney test, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. was considered significant