High-Resolution mRNA and Secretome Atlas of Human Enteroendocrine Cells

Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) sense intestinal content and release hormones to regulate gastrointestinal activity, systemic metabolism, and food intake. Little is known about the molecular make-up of human EEC subtypes and the regulated secretion of individual hormones. Here, we describe an organoid-based platform for functional studies of human EECs. EEC formation is induced in vitro by transient expression of NEUROG3. A set of gut organoids was engineered in which the major hormones are fluorescently tagged. A single-cell mRNA atlas was generated for the different EEC subtypes, and their secreted products were recorded by mass-spectrometry. We note key differences to murine EECs, including hormones, sensory receptors, and transcription factors. Notably, several hormone-like molecules were identified. Inter-EEC communication is exemplified by secretin-induced GLP-1 secretion. Indeed, individual EEC subtypes carry receptors for various EEC hormones. This study provides a rich resource to study human EEC development and function. [Display omitted] •A human organoid biobank combines hormone labeling and enteroendocrine cell generation•Transcriptomic profiling of human enteroendocrine cells uncovers differences with mice•Functional validation of EEC receptors and transcription factors•Secretome analysis reveals the repertoire of enteroendocrine secreted products An organoid-based platform for studying human enteroendocrine cells, which sense intestinal content and release hormones to regulate many processes throughout the body, is developed by Beumer et al. and used to describe the landscape of mRNA expression and secreted products.