Histologically, only the VBI and T2DM+VBI groups exhibited time-dependent neointimal proliferation, with T2DM+VBI exhibiting a larger neointimal area, a greater proliferation index, more severe luminal stenosis (2-week hyperplasia comparable to VBI 6 weeks) and increased F4/80-positive macrophages/MMP-9 (poor plaque stability). Here, MMP9 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.