Tiny cell particles (exosomes) and artery plaque in diabetes
Official title: Exosomes in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Atherosclerosis & its Treatment Opportunities
Funded at Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco · NIH-11213930 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether tiny particles released by cells, called exosomes, make artery plaque worse in adults with type 2 diabetes and whether anti-inflammatory exosomes could protect blood vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX003928-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213930 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, especially those with higher cardiovascular risk or early signs of atherosclerosis, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes or those who already need urgent procedures for severe artery blockages may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The team collects blood samples from people with diabetes and examines tiny particles called exosomes that circulate in the bloodstream. In the lab they expose immune cells to high sugar to produce pro-inflammatory exosomes and test how those exosomes affect blood-vessel cells and plaque, including by injecting them into mice. They also create protective exosomes from immune cells treated with anti-inflammatory signals like interleukin-4 to see if these reduce inflammation and plaque. The goal is to learn whether blocking harmful exosomes or using protective exosomes could become a way to prevent or slow artery disease in people with diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce artery inflammation and lower heart attack and stroke risk for people with diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Early lab and animal work, including the team's preliminary data, shows exosomes can increase or reduce inflammation, but translating these findings into patient treatments is still novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raffai, Robert — Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Raffai, Robert
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.