Background Erythropoietin (EPO), a well-known hematopoietic cytokine, is widely used for the treatment of anemia.Recently studies in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that EPO also has tissue-protective properties including heart.However the prospect of EPO was shadowed because of the character of stimulating erythropoiesis, which may enhance the risk of patients with cardiovascular diseases.A small peptide which mimicked the 3D structure of EPO, termed helix B surface peptide (HBSP), was developed and shown to be neuro-protective similiar with EPO but did not increase RBC,hematocrit or platelet count.Further study proved that HBSP also protected kidney against ischemia/reperfusion injury.