Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of hydroquinone(HQ)on the protein expression of liver kinase B1(LKB1)in bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells(BM-HSC)and embryonic yolk sac hematopoietic stem cells(YS-HSC)in mice.Methods BM-HSC and YS-HSC were enriched by magnetic-activated cell sorting(MACS).The BM-HSC and YS-HSC were cultured in suspension of stem span serum-free expansion medium containing 0,1.25,2.5,5.0 and 10 μmol/L hydroquinone.Cell viability,mRNA and protein expression of LKB1,intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),and apoptosis of BM-HSC and YS-HSC were determined.Results The relative expression of LKB1 mRNA for the HQ dose of 0,1.25,2.5,5,and 10 μmol/L were 1.00,1.27±0.057,1.18±0.021,0.89±0.009,and 0.68±0.006 in BM-HSC and 1.00,1.33±0.024,0.96±0.017,0.7±0.008,and 0.54±0.022 in YS-HSC.The expression of LKB1 mRNA in BM-HSC and YS-HSC were significantly different among different HQ dose groups (P<0.05).The results of protein and mRNA expression of LKB1 were consistent in different HQ dose groups.The results of cell apoptosis were consistent with the expression of LKB1.ConclusionHQ could decrease mRNA and protein expression of LKB1 in BM-HSC and YS-HSC with a dose-effect response,and HQ induced-oxidative stress is correlated with the activity of LKB1.