Of interest, the SDF1α-eMSC group had a significantly greater arteriole (CD31 + αSMA + ) density within the ischemic limb 4 weeks after the ischemic insult, and such changes were evident even in the early stages of limb ischemia, as indicated by the greater percentages of ILB4+ α-SMA+ arterioles in the SDF1α-eMSC group than in the BM-MSC group (Fig. 4). Here, CXCL12 is linked to limb ischemia.