A composition comprising an isolated mutant form of stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) peptide comprising the formula of a mutant SDF-1 (mSDF-1), mSDF-1-Y z, X p -mSDF-1, or X p -mSDF-1-Y z, for use in a method of treating or ameliorating tissue damage in a subject in need thereof, said tissue damage resulting from a disease or condition, wherein said composition is intravenously administered, and wherein said SDF-1 is a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:53, said SEQ ID NO:53 comprising the amino acid sequence: K P X 3 X 4 X 5 X 6 Y R C P C R F F E S H V A R A N V K H L K I L N T P N C A L Q I V A R L K N N N R Q V C I D P K L K W I Q E Y L E K A L N K (SEQ ID NO:53), wherein X 3, X 4, X 5, and X 6 are any amino acid, and wherein a) X p is a proteinogenic amino acid(s) or a protease protective organic group and p is any integer from 1 to 4; b) Y z is a proteinogenic amino acid(s) or protease protective organic group and z is any integer from 1 to 4; c) said mSDF-1 or said mSDF-1-Y z maintains chemoattractant activity for T cells and is inactivated by matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), leukocyte elastase, and/or cathepsin G at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate of inactivation of native SDF-1; and d) said X p -mSDF-1 or said X p -mSDF-1-Y z maintains chemoattractant activity for T cells, is inactivated by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate at which native SDF-1 is inactivated, and is inactivated by MMP-2, MMP-9, leukocyte elastase, and/or cathepsin G at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate of inactivation of native SDF-1; wherein said isolated mutant form of SDF-1 peptide does not comprise the amino acid sequence of at least amino acids 1-8 of SEQ ID NO:52 and is administered intravenously in an amount sufficient to treat or ameliorate said tissue damage in said subject, and wherein said composition is administered: a) within minutes after onset of said disease, condition, or tissue damage; b) 24 hours or more after onset or diagnosis of said disease, condition, or tissue damage; c) 48 hours or more after onset or diagnosis of said disease, condition, or tissue damage; and/or d) 7 days or more after onset or diagnosis of said disease, condition, or tissue damage. K P X 3 X 4 X 5 X 6 Y R C P C R F F E S H V A R A N V K H L K I L N T P N C A L Q I V A R L K N N N R Q V C I D P K L K W I Q E Y L E K A L N K (SEQ ID NO:53), wherein X 3, X 4, X 5, and X 6 are any amino acid, and wherein a) X p is a proteinogenic amino acid(s) or a protease protective organic group and p is any integer from 1 to 4; b) Y z is a proteinogenic amino acid(s) or protease protective organic group and z is any integer from 1 to 4; c) said mSDF-1 or said mSDF-1-Y z maintains chemoattractant activity for T cells and is inactivated by matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), leukocyte elastase, and/or cathepsin G at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate of inactivation of native SDF-1; and d) said X p -mSDF-1 or said X p -mSDF-1-Y z maintains chemoattractant activity for T cells, is inactivated by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate at which native SDF-1 is inactivated, and is inactivated by MMP-2, MMP-9, leukocyte elastase, and/or cathepsin G at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate of inactivation of native SDF-1; a) X p is a proteinogenic amino acid(s) or a protease protective organic group and p is any integer from 1 to 4; b) Y z is a proteinogenic amino acid(s) or protease protective organic group and z is any integer from 1 to 4; c) said mSDF-1 or said mSDF-1-Y z maintains chemoattractant activity for T cells and is inactivated by matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), leukocyte elastase, and/or cathepsin G at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate of inactivation of native SDF-1; and d) said X p -mSDF-1 or said X p -mSDF-1-Y z maintains chemoattractant activity for T cells, is inactivated by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate at which native SDF-1 is inactivated, and is inactivated by MMP-2, MMP-9, leukocyte elastase, and/or cathepsin G at a rate that is at least 50% less than the rate of inactivation of native SDF-1; a) within minutes after onset of said disease, condition, or tissue damage; b) 24 hours or more after onset or diagnosis of said disease, condition, or tissue damage; c) 48 hours or more after onset or diagnosis of said disease, condition, or tissue damage; and/or d) 7 days or more after onset or diagnosis of said disease, condition, or tissue damage.