Two Nature Papers: The most comprehensive intestinal cell map to date, and the complete human developmental cell map

Many diseases originate in early human development.

One of the new large-scale studies has drawn a map of human intestinal cells from early development to adulthood, creating the most comprehensive map of intestinal cells to date

The second paper reveals an ambitious plan to create a complete Human Developmental Cell Atlas (HDCA), which contains all the cells that are essential to the healthy development of humans

The intestine is a complex tissue composed of a variety of cells, which undergoes tremendous changes during early development

Using advanced single-cell genomics and spatial analysis techniques, the team revealed which genes are active in each cell and created a highly extensive intestinal cell map§§, spanning 12 regions of time and intestine

The first author of this study, Rasa Elmentaite from the Sanger Institute, said: "By studying multiple regions of the human intestine, throughout the development process, childhood and adulthood, we have created a unique and detailed healthy human being.

The study also included intestinal biopsies from children with Crohn's disease

The senior author of the paper, Kylie James, said: "This atlas of intestinal cells has provided new clues to the origin of Crohn’s disease and other intestinal diseases

Although the intestinal atlas is an example of how to understand how development clarifies diseases, a huge effort is already underway-to create a complete human developmental cell atlas (HDCA) that will change our understanding of health and disease

Professor Muzlifah Haniffa is a researcher from the Developmental Biology Network of Newcastle University and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

The HCA Development Biology Network has brought together many research teams around the world to share data and ethical resources

In order to understand how tissues develop and grow, more than 600 researchers participated in the first HCA Development and Child Cell Atlas Conference on August 25-27, 2021

The human developmental cell atlas data will be publicly available and will be used to find drug targets, engineer human cells for research or screening, and eventually even be used in regenerative medicine treatments

Dr.

Note:

Intestinal cell atlas data can be viewed online atpapers:

Rasa Elmentaite et al.

Muzlifah Haniffa et al.