CD133+CD34+ and CD133+CD38+ blood progenitor cells as predictors of platelet engraftment in patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

BackgroundHematopoietic stem cells (HSC) have been characterized by CD34+ expression and an adequate dose of CD34+ cells is associated with a complete engraftment. CD133 is a more specific marker of HSC.Materials and methodsWe studied the relationship between graft content of CD34+, CD133+, and CD38+ cells and trilineage engraftment after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with different hematological disorders. Blood samples were obtained before and after mobilization with recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF, 16 μg/kg), from apheresis collections, and after transplantation.ResultsCell subsets were quantified by flow cytometry, and the dose of each population infused was correlated with success of engraftment. G-CSF induced mobilization of CD133+CD38+ cells (12.6-fold) and CD133+CD34+ cells (14.7-fold). A correlation was observed between the infused dose of CD133+CD34+ and CD133+CD38+ cells and platelet engraftment.ConclusionCD133+CD34+ and CD133+CD38+ cells were mobilized with G-CSF and these cell subsets were correlated with platelet engraftment.