In contrast, the expressions of Nrf-2, HO-1, and Bcl-2 were dramatically increased and those of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax were significantly reduced in aortic tissue in the UCMSCs and FXC+UCMSCs groups (p <0.05), indicating that UCMSCs and FXC+ UCMSCs could affect the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibit pro-apoptotic protein expression in T2DM rats (Fig. 4). Here, CASP3 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.