The presently-disclosed subject matter provides methods for preventing ischemia in a cell, treating ischemia in a subject, and preventing an infarction in a subject that utilize α5β1 integrin inhibitor. In some instances, α5β1 integrin inhibitor is administered to a subject prior to, during, or after the onset of ischemia to treat the ischemia and/or prevent infarction. In some instances the present methods prevent the occurrence of an infarction. In some instances the present methods restores perfusion to organs and tissues.
