VEGF-A promotes cardiac stem cell engraftment and myocardial repair in the infarcted heart.

•VEGF-A treatment enhanced CSC adhesion to ECs through induction of VCAM-1, not ICAM-1, which required PKCα signaling in vitro.•CSC activated in vitro with VEGF-A amplified CSC engraftment in the sites of infarcted heart through PKCα /VCAM-1 signaling in vivo.•CSC activated in vitro with VEGF-A increased angiomyogenesis in myocardium, and improved cardiac function of infarcted heart.