Insulin is expressed by enteroendocrine cells during human fetal development

Abstract 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 enteroendocrine cells in 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 exposes its molecular blueprint.