['Previous findings from our laboratory demonstrated that neovascularization was impaired in osteopontin (OPN) knockout animals. However, the mechanisms responsible for the regulation of OPN expression in the setting of ischemia remain undefined. Therefore, we sought to determine whether OPN is upregulated in response to ischemia and hypothesized that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is a critical component of the signaling mechanism by which OPN expression is upregulated in response to ischemia in vivo.', 'To determine whether ischemic injury upregulates OPN, we used a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. Femoral artery ligation in C57BL/6 mice significantly increased OPN expression and H(2)O(2) production. Infusion of C57BL/6 mice with polyethylene glycol-catalase (10 000 U/kg per day) or the use of transgenic mice with smooth muscle cell-specific catalase overexpression blunted ischemia-induced OPN, suggesting ischemia-induced OPN expression is H(2)O(2)-dependent. Decreased H(2)O(2)-mediated OPN blunted reperfusion and collateral formation in vivo. In contrast, the overexpression of OPN using lentivirus restored neovascularization.'] Do reactive oxygen species regulate osteopontin expression in a murine model of postischemic neovascularization?