MAPK8 and diabetes mellitus: Moreover, after a 16-week duration of diabetes, Pggt1bΔ/Δ mice exhibited lower α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and nitrotyrosine level, Rac1 activity, p47phox and NOXO1 expression, and phospho-ERK1/2 and phosphor-JNK content than wild-type mice.