CXCL12 and diabetes mellitus: Overall, the present study indicates that a short period of diabetes is sufficient to trap a significant number of Lin-/VEGF-R2+ EPCs in the BM and to induce reduced expression of SDF-1, which could be one of the predominant reasons to account for the dysfunctional mobilization of Lin-/VEGF-R2+ EPCs from the BM to PB.