Patent ID: 8455453

Claim:
A method of treating a mammalian subject in need of treatment to inhibit stenosis or restenosis of a blood vessel, comprising the step of: administering directly to the blood vessel a composition comprising a polynucleotide, the polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide operatively linked to a promoter for expression of the polypeptide in cells of the blood vessel, wherein the encoded polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and (b) a fragment of (a) wherein the fragment comprises amino acids 93-201 of SEQ ID NO: 4 and binds to and stimulates phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3, and wherein said polypeptide expressed by the cells of the blood vessel inhibits stenosis or restenosis of said blood vessel.