In the light of recent finding on beneficial effects elicited by CXCR4 gene transfer in pressure overload-induced heart failure 11, as well as ongoing clinical trial of adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy for heart failure 30, it is interesting to propose that CXCR4 gene therapy may serve as a potential preventive and therapeutic approach for I/R injury during revascularization treatment or cardiac transplantation. Here, CXCR4 is linked to heart failure.