This revealed a reduction of CD31+ EC in STZ mice, which was already detectable from the second week after diabetes induction (week 2: STZ vs. CTRL, P = 0.002; STZ vs. SILD, P = 0.004; STZ vs. STZ + SILD, P = 0.005) and increased thereafter, suggestive of EC death. Here, PECAM1 is linked to diabetes mellitus.