To determine the potential contribution of shedding to the increased protein expression of Sdc-1 in the adventitia in T2D patients, we assessed whether T2D was also associated with reduced adventitial MMP-2 activity and/or plasma Sdc-1 as well as any potential correlations to the increased adventitial Sdc-1 expression. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.