No abstract

These findings suggest that 5 x 10(6) is a suitable number of cells to induce appropriate collateral vessel development and minimize potential side effects of this procedure. Despite use of ex vivo gene transfer, repeat administration of the cells was not feasible. Clinical relevance Since the present study determined the appropriate conditions for effective and safe stimulation of collateral vessels, the clinical relevance of the ex vivo therapy might be carried forward. However, the findings raised another issue that should be resolved before clinical application; that is, the number of gene-transduced cells able to be injected was strictly limited. To estimate the therapeutic range of cell number in humans, additional experiments using large animals are desirable.