In vitro, high glucose increased the apoptosis of CD34+CD45- progenitor cells.26 However, in vivo, the apoptotic rate of CD34+ HSPCs in PB in patients with T2D was similar to that of non-diabetic counterparts and HSPC apoptosis was explaining only 10-12% of the variation in their circulating levels.19 Therefore, cell death is unlikely to account for the profound reduction in HSPCs observed in diabetic PB. Here, CD34 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.