Transcriptome of chicken (Gallus gallus) enteroids

Mammalian three-dimensional (3D) enteroids mirror in vivo tissue organisation and are powerful tools to investigate intestinal cell biology and host-pathogen interactions. We have developed complex multilobulated 3D chicken enteroids comprised of multiple differentiated cell-types, from intestinal embryonic villi and adult crypts. Notably, avian enteroids grow optimally in suspension without the structural support required to produce mammalian enteroids. This culture environment results in an 'inside-out' enteroid conformation with media-facing apical brush border. Histological and transcriptional RNA-seq analyses on enteroids collected day 0, 3 and 7 of culture, show these enteroids comprise of differentiated intestinal epithelial cells bound by cell-cell junctions, intraepithelial leukocytes and an inner core of lamina propria leukocytes. We have created a comprehensive 3D model of the chicken intestine which has the potential to be exploited in host-pathogen, food science and pharmaceutical research.