Single-Cell Transcriptome Profiling of Human Pancreatic Islets in Health and Type 2 Diabetes

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.08.020
• Publication Date: 2016-09-22T16:18:03Z
• Authors: Åsa Segerstolpe; Athanasia Palasantza; Pernilla Eliasson; Eva-Marie Andersson; Anne-Christine An...; Xiaoyan Sun; Simone Picelli; Alan Sabirsh; Maryam Clausen; Magnus K. Bjursell; David M. Smith; Maria Kasper; Carina Ämmälä; Rickard Sandberg
• Keywords: Cell type; Enteroendocrine cell; Pancreatic Islets

Hormone-secreting cells within pancreatic islets of Langerhans play important roles in metabolic homeostasis and disease. However, their transcriptional characterization is still incomplete. Here, we sequenced the transcriptomes thousands human islet from healthy type 2 diabetic donors. We could define specific genetic programs for each individual endocrine exocrine cell type, even rare δ, γ, ε, stellate cells, revealed subpopulations α, β, acinar cells. Intriguingly, δ expressed several receptors, indicating an unrecognized importance these integrating paracrine systemic signals. Genes previously associated with obesity or diabetes were found to correlate BMI. Finally, comparing T2D a cell-type resolved manner uncovered candidates future functional studies. Altogether, our analyses demonstrate utility generated single-cell gene expression resource.