Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1α as a Novel Biomarker for Hyperlipidemia

Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1α as a Novel Biomarker for Hyperlipidemia

SHOU-LIN LI,^1,2 WEI LIN,^1,2 YAN ZHANG,^1,2 ZHI-CHANG ZHENG,^1,2 LI-JUN LIU,^1,2 HAO FU,^1,2 JIE LIU,^1,2 GUO-DONG WANG,^1,2 SI-YUAN CHEN^1,2 and LI-H0ONG FENG^1,2

¹Capital Medical University School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
²Department of Cardiovasology, Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, P.R. China

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is expressed in a wide variety of organs, such as heart, and plays a pivotal role in the mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in bone marrow. SDF-1α, a common subtype of SDF-1, may control hematopoiesis and angiogenesis, but its role in the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of SDF-1α in the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia. First, log-transformed SDF-1α serum levels (logSDF-1α) were significantly higher in male patients with borderline high lipid profile (BHLP; n = 28; 2.15 ± 0.08 ng/ml) compared to control subjects (n = 37; 1.94 ± 0.06 ng/ml; P < 0.01). The logSDF-1α in male patients with high lipid profile (HLP; n = 33; 1.95 ± 0.08 ng/ml) were lower than BHLP patients (P < 0.01). The logSDF-1α was positively associated with HDL-C only in female patients (n = 125; r = 0.379, P = 0.016). These results suggest the different pathophysiology in male and female patients with hyperlipidemia. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis showed that expression of the SDF-1α receptor, CXC-chemokine receptor 4, was lower in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with BHLP (n = 10) and HLP (n = 10), compared to control subjects (n = 10; P < 0.001). Lastly, peripheral blood leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were higher in BHLP patients (n = 62; P < 0.05). Taken together, we suggest SDF-1α as a biomarker of hyperlipidemia that may be helpful to uncover the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia.

keywords —— atherogenesis; chemokine; cytokine; hyperlipidemia; leukocyte

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2012, 228, 355-363

Correspondence: Shou-lin Li, M.D., Ph.D., Capital Medical University School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Cardiovasology, Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, 10 Jiaomen North Rd, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, P.R. China.

e-mail: shoulin63@yahoo.com.cn