Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in diabetic vascular complications. A large number of studies have revealed that some clinical antihyperglycemics can improve the complications of diabetes by regulating the function of EPCs. Metformin can improve EPCs function in diabetic patients by regulating oxidative stress level or downstream signaling pathway of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase; Pioglitazone can delay the aging of EPCs by regulating telomerase activity; acarbose, sitagliptin and insulin can promote the proliferation, migration and adhesion of EPCs. In addition to lowering blood glucose, the effects of antihyperglycemics on EPCs may also be one of the mechanisms to improve the complications of diabetes. This article reviews the research progress on the regulation of EPC proliferation and function by antihyperglycemics.
内皮祖细胞（EPC）在糖尿病血管并发症中发挥重要作用。大量研究证明，临床部分降血糖药可通过调节EPC功能进而发挥改善糖尿病并发症的作用。其中二甲双胍可通过多效性调节机体氧化应激水平或AMP活化蛋白激酶下游信号通路改善糖尿病患者的EPC功能；吡格列酮可通过调节端粒酶活性延缓EPC衰老；阿卡波糖、西格列汀和胰岛素在临床研究中均显示出提高EPC活性的作用，其机制主要表现为促进EPC增殖、迁移、黏附等。降血糖药的这种降血糖之外的药理作用可能是改善糖尿病并发症的机制之一。本文在分析EPC对糖尿病并发症血管修复影响的基础上，对降血糖药调控EPC数量和功能的研究进展作一综述。
Keywords: Antihyperglycemics; Diabetes mellitus; Endothelial progenitor cells; Oxidative stress; Review; Telomerase.