Methods and compositions for the repair and/or regeneration of damaged myocardium

1 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . A method of repairing and/or generating and/or regenerating recently damaged myocardium and/or myocardial cells comprising the administration of a cytokine wherein the cytokine is optionally selected from the group consisting of:

a. a stem cell factor;

b. a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor;

c. a stromal cell-derived factor-1;

d. an interleukin-3;

e. a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor;

f. a macrophage colony stimulating factor;

g. a steel factor;

h. a vascular endothelial growth factor; and combinations thereof.

27 . (canceled)

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein a therapeutically effective dose of a cytokine is administered, wherein the therapeutically effective dose is optionally 50-500 μg/kg per day.

29 . (canceled)

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose is injected, wherein optionally the injection is subcutaneous or intravenous.

31 - 32 . (canceled)

33 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose stimulates the patient's own somatic stem cells, wherein the stimulated somatic stem cells are optionally adult stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, adult hematopoietic stem cells, cardiac stem cells, adult cardiac stem cells, or another type of stem cells, or combinations thereof.

34 - 42 . (canceled)

43 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the stimulated somatic stem cells become mobilized.

44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the mobilized somatic stem cells home to the damaged myocardium and/or myocardial cells.

45 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the mobilized somatic stem cells migrate into the damaged myocardium and/or myocardial cells.

46 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the somatic stem cells differentiate into one or more of the following types of cells selected from the group consisting of:

a. myocyctes;

b. smooth muscle cells; and

c. endothelial cells.

47 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the differentiated somatic stem cells proliferate.

48 . The method of claim 46 wherein the differentiated somatic stem cells assemble into one or more of myocardium and/or myocardial cells, a coronary artery, an arteriole, and a capillary.

49 - 51 . (canceled)

52 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the differentiated somatic stem cells at least partially restore function to the damaged myocardium and/or myocardial cells.

53 - 123 . (canceled)

124 . A method of implanting or depositing cells or causing the implantation or depositing of somatic stem cells in cardiac or blood vessel tissue comprising administration of a cytokine, wherein the cytokine is optionally selected from the group consisting of:

a. a stem cell factor;

b. a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor;

c. a stromal cell-derived factor-1;

d. an interleukin-3;

e. a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor;

f. a macrophage colony stimulating factor;

g. a steel factor;

h. a vascular endothelial growth factor; and combinations thereof.

125 . (canceled)

126 . The method of claim 124 , wherein a therapeutically effective dose of a cytokine is administered, wherein the therapeutically effective dose is optionally 50-500 μg/kg per day.

127 . (canceled)

128 . The method of claim 126 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose stimulates the patient's own somatic stem cells, wherein the stimulated somatic stem cells are optionally adult stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, adult hematopoietic stem cells, cardiac stem cells, adult cardiac stem cells, or another type of stem cells, or combinations thereof.

129 - 137 . (canceled)

138 . The method of claim 128 , wherein the stimulated somatic stem cells become mobilized.

139 . The method of claim 138 , wherein the mobilized somatic stem cells home to the damaged myocardium and/or myocardial cells.

140 . The method of claim 138 , wherein the mobilized somatic stem cells migrate into the damaged myocardium and/or myocardial cells.

141 - 153 . (canceled)