In fact, LPS preconditioning of mouse BM-MSCs can, when compared to unconditioned MSCs, improve their survival and engraftment of MSCs and increase the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a model of rat acute myocardial infarction leading to an enhanced therapeutic effect (improved cardiac function, reduced apoptosis of myocardium, reduced fibrosis and elevated vascular density after myocardial infarction) [56] (see Table 1). Here, VEGFA is linked to myocardial infarction.