Low-density lipoprotein as a biomarker for the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in peripheral blood.

The predictor of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) mobilized in peripheral blood (PB) remains unknown. We retrospectively examined the relationship between serum cholesterol level and CD34-positive cells mobilized with granulocyte stimulating factor in PB. PB- mobilized CD34-positive cells were significantly higher in patients with high titers of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than in patients with normal levels (average total cholesterol, 122.94 vs. 51.03/μL, p<0.05; average LDL-C 130.07 vs. 53.77, p<0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that LDL-C significantly influenced PB-mobilized CD34-positive cells, suggesting that LDL-C may be an effective biomarker for mobilization of HSCs in PB.