Abstract: The present invention provides a method of stimulating vasculogenesis of myocardial infarct damaged tissue in a subject comprising: (a) removing stem cells from a location in the subject; (b) recovering endothelial progenitor cells in the stem cells; (c) introducing the endothelial progenitor cells from step (b) into a different location in the subject such that the precursors migrate to and stimulate revascularization of the tissue. The stem cells may be removed directly or by mobilization. The endothelial progenitor cells may be expanded before introduction into the subject. The present invention further provides a method of inducing angiogenesis in peri-infarct tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides DNAzymes and ribozymes that specifically cleave PAI-1-encoding mRNA. The present invention also provides antisense oligonucleotides that specifically inhibit translation of PAI-1-encoding mRNA. The invention also provides various methods of inhibiting the expression of PAI-1. Finally the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing the instant DNAzymes, ribozymes and antisense oligonucleotides as active ingredients.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of treating a disorder of a subject's heart involving loss of cardiomyocytes which comprises administering to the subject an amount of an agent effective to cause cardiomyocyte proliferation within the subject's heart so as to thereby treat the disorder. This invention further provides the instant method wherein the agent is human endothelial progenitor cells. This invention also provides methods of determining the susceptibility of a cardiomyocyte in a subject to apoptosis.