Stratification of enterochromaffin cells as chemosensor and mechanosensors by single cell analysis

Dynamic interactions between gut mucosal cells and the external environment is essential to maintain gut homeostasis. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells transduce both chemical and mechanical signals and produce 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to mediate disparate physiologic responses. However, the molecular and cellular basis for such functional diversity of ECs is largely unknown. To address the heterogeneity and diversity of ECs, we integrated single cell RNA-seq with spatial image analysis and resolved multiple subsets of ECs.

肠道黏膜细胞与外部环境之间的动态互作，对于维持肠道稳态至关重要。肠嗜铬细胞（Enterochromaffin, EC）可转导化学与机械信号，并合成5-羟色胺（5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT）以介导多种不同的生理应答。然而，目前对于肠嗜铬细胞这类功能多样性的分子与细胞基础，仍知之甚少。为解析肠嗜铬细胞的异质性与多样性，本研究将单细胞RNA测序（single cell RNA-seq）与空间成像分析相结合，明确了肠嗜铬细胞的多个亚群。