Thus, this study revealed that using UC-MSCs as vector in gene therapy for limb ischemia facilitates stable and effective expression of EPO compared to direct gene injection.
Rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups following median laparotomy and right nephrectomy: Sham (n = 6); 30-min left renal ischemia (RI) only (n = 20); RI + rIC (n = 20) (four 5-min cycles of limb ischemia interspersed with 5-min limb reperfusion during RI); and RI + erythropoietin pretreatment (EPO) (n = 20).