Methods and compositions are disclosed for inhibiting, deterring or preventing
apoptosis of cardiac myocytes, transplanted stem cells, vascular stem cells, and
vascular smooth muscle cells by means of expressing or synthesizing
clusterin. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for producing recombinant
clusterin, or its biologically active peptides, and for induction of
clusterin-associated lipoproteins or enzymes for deterring or preventing inflammatory injury and
apoptosis induced by oxLDL, oxysterols, cytokines, and
Fas Ligand. Also disclosed is an
induction method and composition for enhancing expression of ALDH and ALDH-associated enzymes or co-factors to prevent
cytotoxicity or detoxification. Therapeutic methods providing new expression or overexpression of clusterin in vascular or cardiac tissue are expected to inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, stabilize existing atherosclerotic plaques, and repair failing or damaged cardiac tissue.