NFE2L2 and diabetes mellitus: Saline-treated EPCs (control group), CXCR7-EPCsNrf2-WT (CXCR7-EPCNrf2-WT group), or CXCR7-EPCsNrf2-KD (CXCR7-EPCNrf2-KD group) were transplanted into the rats with both diabetes and carotid artery injury to determine whether knockdown of Nrf2 impairs CXCR7-EPC-mediated endothelial repair in DM.