INS and diabetes mellitus: Nrf-2 is pivotal in regulating intracellular redox homeostasis by increasing cytoprotective gene expression, and its activation accelerates diabetic wound healing by facilitating diabetes-mediated oxidative stress and inflammation [27]. Considering that insulin possesses anti-inflammatory properties, the increased Nrf-2 expression in the ICNP-treated group indicated that ICNP regulates inflammation through Nrf-2 activation.