ANPEP and type 2 diabetes mellitus: In the present study, lentivirus constructs expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and APN gene directed against EPCs (LV-APN-EPCs) were transplanted into T2DM rats after the so-called middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to evaluate the therapeutic efficiency and underlying mechanism of LV-APN-EPCs treatment in T2DM rats after the ischemic stroke.