Spatial and functional mapping of the human pancreas reveals endocrine and exocrine cell states in health and metabolic disease

Abstract

The human pancreas contains diverse endocrine and exocrine cell populations whose spatial organization is essential for tissue physiology. While single-cell and spatial transcriptomics revealed molecular heterogeneity across pancreatic cell types, linking these states to physiological activity in situ has remained challenging. Here, we combined single-nucleus RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and functional calcium imaging across pancreatic samples in health and metabolic disease. We identified heterogeneous endocrine and exocrine cell states associated with obesity and diabetes, including inflammatory remodeling of acinar and ductal populations. To directly couple tissue physiology with molecular state, we developed Slice-seq, which integrates calcium imaging with spatial transcriptomics in acute pancreatic slices. Slice-seq linked local endocrine composition and transcriptional programs with {beta} cell activity and identified extra-islet {beta} cells with reduced glucose responsiveness and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Together, our study provides a framework for linking pancreatic cell states to tissue organization and physiological activity in health and disease.