CXCL12 and diabetes mellitus: CXCL12 inhibits apoptosis by activating the prosurvival kinase Akt via mechanisms such as upregulation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and phosphorylation of the proapoptotic protein Bax, thereby stimulating the survival of islet β-cells; moreover, some people with the CXCL12-3'A variant experience an early onset of diabetes [106].