The most comprehensive cell map of the human gut to date has been created by combining spatial and single-cell data from 1.6 million cells. Mapping the cells of the gut can provide us with further insights into what happens in conditions such as bowel cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Using this atlas, researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and collaborators uncovered a new role of a specific gut cell, highlighting its contributions to a cycle of inflammation in some individuals, possibly causing pain and distress. The study, published today (20 November) in Nature , details how the team harmonised over 25 single-cell datasets of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract to create the world's largest freely-available resource of the human gut to date. This includes samples from those with health conditions as well as those without.
By having a more complete picture of the human gut in health and disease, researchers can identify any key changes or differences that could be involved in the onset of conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and lead to new possible targets for drug development. This paper is one of a collection of more than 40 HCA publications in Nature Portfolio journals that represent a milestone leap in our understanding of the human body. These highly complementary studies have shed light on central aspects of human development, and health and disease biology, and have led to the development of vital analytical tools and tech.
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