Breakthrough Discovery Could Transform Type 1 Diabetes Prevention and Treatment
- Rebecca Guldberg
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
Scientists at Scripps Research have identified a previously unknown type of cell in the pancreas—called vascular-associated fibroblastic cells (VAFs)—that may hold the key to preventing or even reversing type 1 diabetes.
What Are VAFs?
VAFs act like molecular peacekeepers. They help shield insulin-producing cells from the immune system, preventing autoimmune attacks that can lead to type 1 diabetes. This breakthrough explains why the disease often develops slowly during its preclinical phase, when the immune system is already damaging pancreatic cells but blood sugar levels appear normal.
Why This Matters
More than 1.6 million Americans currently live with type 1 diabetes. Daily management—insulin injections, blood sugar monitoring, and strict diets—remains burdensome and can carry serious risks if blood sugar isn’t controlled.
By studying VAFs, researchers found that these cells not only present pancreatic proteins to the immune system but also send signals that calm immune responses. When VAFs are overwhelmed by inflammation, however, autoimmunity can take over, triggering diabetes.
The Future of Treatment
This discovery opens the door for therapies that:
Strengthen VAFs to maintain immune tolerance.
Reduce inflammation to protect insulin-producing cells.
Personalize treatments by working with the body’s natural defenses rather than broadly suppressing immunity.
The research team, led by Dr. Luc Teyton, recently received $3.2 million in NIH funding to advance this work. Beyond type 1 diabetes, these insights could also help in organ transplantation and other autoimmune diseases.
Bottom Line
For people living with or at risk for type 1 diabetes, this breakthrough represents hope for future treatments that target the root cause of the disease.
🔗 Read the original study announcement here: Scripps Research News Release
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