To shed additional light on the physiological significance of the MT1-MMP-CD44 axis in the homing of diabetogenic T cells and also on the importance of the specific T cell MT1-MMP-dependent targeting of CD44, the anti-diabetic potencies of two broad-range non-hydroxamate MMP inhibitors [2-(4-phenoxyphenylsulfonylmethyl)thiirane (SB-3CT) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)] were tested using a transferred diabetes model in NOD mice. Here, CD44 is linked to diabetes mellitus.