The intestine plays an important role in nutrient digestion and absorption, microbe defense, and hormone secretion. Although major cell types have been identified in the mouse intestinal epithelium, cell type–specific markers and functional assignments are largely unavailable for human intestine. Here, our single-cell RNA-seq analyses of 14,537 epithelial cells from human ileum, colon, and rectum reveal different nutrient absorption preferences in the small and large intestine, suggest the existence of Paneth-like cells in the large intestine, and identify potential new marker genes for human transient-amplifying cells and goblet cells. We have validated some of these insights by quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, and functional analyses. Furthermore, we show both common and differential features of the cellular landscapes between the human and mouse ilea. Therefore, our data provide the basis for detailed characterization of human intestine cell constitution and functions, which would be helpful for a better understanding of human intestine disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal tumorigenesis.
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Technical Advances and Resources|
November 21 2019
Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals differential nutrient absorption functions in human intestine
Yalong Wang
,
Yalong Wang
*
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Wanlu Song
,
Wanlu Song
*
2
The MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Jilian Wang
,
Jilian Wang
3
Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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Ting Wang
,
Ting Wang
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Xiaochen Xiong
,
Xiaochen Xiong
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Zhen Qi
,
Zhen Qi
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Wei Fu
,
3
Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
Wei Fu: fuwei@bjmu.edu.cn
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Xuerui Yang
,
2
The MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Xuerui Yang: yangxuerui@tsinghua.edu.cn
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Ye-Guang Chen
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
4
Max-Planck Center for Tissue Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
Correspondence to Ye-Guang Chen: ygchen@tsinghua.edu.cn
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Yalong Wang
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Wanlu Song
2
The MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Jilian Wang
3
Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
Ting Wang
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Xiaochen Xiong
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Zhen Qi
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Wei Fu
3
Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
Xuerui Yang
2
The MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Ye-Guang Chen
1
The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
4
Max-Planck Center for Tissue Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
Correspondence to Ye-Guang Chen: ygchen@tsinghua.edu.cn
Wei Fu: fuwei@bjmu.edu.cn
Xuerui Yang: yangxuerui@tsinghua.edu.cn
*
Y. Wang and W. Song contributed equally to this paper.
J Exp Med (2020) 217 (2): e20191130.
Article history
Received:
June 20 2019
Revision Received:
August 28 2019
Accepted:
October 18 2019
Citation
Yalong Wang, Wanlu Song, Jilian Wang, Ting Wang, Xiaochen Xiong, Zhen Qi, Wei Fu, Xuerui Yang, Ye-Guang Chen; Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals differential nutrient absorption functions in human intestine. J Exp Med 3 February 2020; 217 (2): e20191130. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20191130
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