en Cellular and Molecular Biology مروری Review <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="line-height:200%"><span sans-serif=""><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" times="">Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory disease with a high prevalence. According to the research and statistical data, in January 2021, there have been 92,262,621 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than two million deaths. Infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the main cause of this disease. In addition to the respiratory system, the disease affects the gastrointestinal tract, central-peripheral nervous system, circulatory system, and kidneys. Therefore, any therapeutic action to reduce COVID-19-related symptoms and complications is essential. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of the published literature and preprints on the efficacy of erythropoietin (EPO) and recombinant human EPO as a safe stimulant and tissue protector in the treatment of COVID-19. We also briefly described th</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="line-height:200%"><span sans-serif=""><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" times="">e structure of coronavirus, its pathogenesis, and the structure of EPO and recombinant human EPO. All relevant articles published in the Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were searched.&nbsp; According to the results, EPO is a cytoprotective cytokine induced by hypoxia. The pleiotropic effects of EPO are associated with its erythrocyte-forming, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory activities. It also exerts protective effects on the heart, lungs, kidneys, arteries, and central and peripheral nervous systems. It has been demonstrated that EPO can increase hemoglobin levels, thereby increasing oxygen delivery to the tissues. Therefore, recombinant human EPO therapy can be used for counteracting the adverse effects of COVID-19 including hypoxic myocarditis, acute renal failure, pulmonary edema, and brain-spinal cord ischemic injury. Overall, the use of EPO and recombinant human EPO therapy increases blood coagulation, tumor growth, thromboembolism, and purification of red blood cells, which must be accompanied by anticoagulants such as heparin.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div> Erythropoietin, COVID-19, Hypoxia, Recombinant human erythropoietin, Pleiotropic 11 27 http://jcbr.goums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-79-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Fatemeh EmamiPari fatemeh.emami120@gmail.com 10031947532846003781 10031947532846003781 No Department of Animal Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Kharazmi University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Soroush Kamali soroush.kamaali@gmail.com 10031947532846003782 10031947532846003782 No Department of Molecular Cell Biology - Molecular Cell Science, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran Ghazaleh Nikzad ghazalehnik97@gmail.com 10031947532846003783 10031947532846003783 No Department of Molecular Cell Biology - Molecular Cell Science, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran Narges Roosta Navi nrn4036@gmail.com 10031947532846003784 10031947532846003784 No Department of Molecular Cell Biology - Molecular Cell Science, Payame Noor University of Talesh, Gilan, Iran Sanaz Soltani snaz.soltniiiiii@gmail.com 10031947532846003785 10031947532846003785 No Department of Biology, Shahr-e-Quds Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Mohamad Reza Kalani kalani@goums.ac.ir 10031947532846003786 10031947532846003786 Yes Molecular Medicine Department, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran