*p<0.05 vs. WT; **p<0.01 vs. WT; ****p<0.0001 vs. WT; &p<0.05 vs. MDS; &&&p<0.001 vs. MDS; Abbreviations: WT = wild type; MDS = myelodysplastic syndrome; DFP = deferiprone; EPO = erythropoietin; Act casp 3/7 = activated caspase 3 and 7; ROS = reactive oxygen species; ProE = pro-erythroblasts; BasoE = basophilic erythroblasts; PolyE = polychromatophilic erythroblasts; OrthoE = orthochromatophilic erythroblasts; NS = not significant. Here, EPO is linked to myelodysplastic syndrome.