A Hormone Cell Atlas maps the human endocrine system at cellular resolution

L Lijiang Fei I Isabel Huang-Doran (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) K Katherine Lawler (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) Y Yizhou Yu (Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.) J Jan Patrick Pett K Kevin M. Méndez-Acevedo (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) D Dinesh Shah (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) J Jaume Margalef-Rieres (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) J Joseph S. Pohlman (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) B Batuhan Cakir M Madelyn R. Moy (Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.) R Robert G. Legg (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) C Chuan Xu (Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.) K Ken To D Duy Pham (Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.) A Alexander V. Predeus R Ruth Hanssen (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) T Tessa M. Cacciottolo (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.) R Rakesh K. Kapuge (Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.) K Krzysztof Polanski A Amanda J. Oliver (Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.) S Sarah A. Teichmann I I. Sadaf Farooqi (Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.)

Abstract

Hormones act across tissues and organs to coordinate physiological functions. Drawing inspiration from the Human Cell Atlas, we analyzed the expression of 379 hormone and receptor genes in a transcriptomic dataset comprising 14 million single cells and nuclei across 47 human tissues. Using hormone2cell, we mapped putative hormone-producing and hormone-receiving cell types, defining tissue-specific and cross-tissue endocrine signatures. We predicted nonclassical sites of hormone expression, including secretin in plasmacytoid dendritic cells, inferred convergent hormone action and endocrine feedback loops, and implicated cell populations in monogenic endocrine disorders. In a cross-tissue integration of adipocyte datasets, we uncovered dynamic endocrine programs across depots, within adipocyte subtypes and through adipogenic differentiation. Cumulatively, the Hormone Cell Atlas ( hormonecellatlas.org.uk ) provides a comprehensive framework for dissecting hormonal impact on health and disease.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 393, Issue 6806
Published July 02, 2026
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (23)

L

Lijiang Fei

I

Isabel Huang-Doran

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

K

Katherine Lawler

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

Y

Yizhou Yu

Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

J

Jan Patrick Pett

K

Kevin M. Méndez-Acevedo

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

D

Dinesh Shah

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

J

Jaume Margalef-Rieres

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

J

Joseph S. Pohlman

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

B

Batuhan Cakir

M

Madelyn R. Moy

Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

R

Robert G. Legg

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

C

Chuan Xu

Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

K

Ken To

D

Duy Pham

Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

A

Alexander V. Predeus

R

Ruth Hanssen

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

T

Tessa M. Cacciottolo

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

R

Rakesh K. Kapuge

Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

K

Krzysztof Polanski

A

Amanda J. Oliver

Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.

S

Sarah A. Teichmann

I

I. Sadaf Farooqi

Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.