Generation of beta cells via transdifferentiation of other cell types is a promising avenue for the treatment of diabetes. Here we reconstruct a single-cell atlas of the human fetal and neonatal small intestine. We identify a subset of fetal enteroendocrine K/L cells that express high levels of insulin and other beta cell genes. Our findings highlight a potential extra-pancreatic source of beta cells and expose its molecular blueprint.

中文翻译：

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胰岛素在人类胎儿发育过程中由肠内分泌细胞表达

通过其他细胞类型的转分化产生β细胞是治疗糖尿病的有希望的途径。在这里，我们重建了人类胎儿和新生儿小肠的单细胞图谱。我们确定了表达高水平胰岛素和其他β细胞基因的胎儿肠内分泌K/L细胞子集。我们的研究结果突出了一个潜在的胰腺外β细胞来源，并揭示了它的分子蓝图。