A new atlas maps every hormone-making cell

Hormones are signalling molecules that carry information between organs through the bloodstream. They regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction and sleep cycles. The study, published in Science, presents the first comprehensive cell-resolution atlas of the human endocrine system, the network of glands and cells that produce and release hormones.

Using single-cell RNA sequencing (a technique that measures gene activity in individual cells), the researchers mapped which cells produce which hormones, and under what conditions. This provides far more detail than was previously possible: not just which organs are involved, but which specific cell types, and how those cell types differ in their production profiles.

Relevant for aging

As we age, hormone levels change substantially. Oestrogen, testosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) all decline significantly. At the same time, chronic low-grade inflammation rises, partly driven by hormonal shifts. A detailed atlas of which cells produce which hormones provides a foundation for understanding what changes at the cellular level underlie hormonal ageing.

A reference for future research

The atlas is primarily a descriptive tool: it documents what exists, without yet offering direct therapeutic applications. But such maps have historically been the first step toward targeted interventions. Knowing precisely which cell makes a hormone allows researchers to more specifically investigate how to modulate or restore that production during ageing or disease. The researchers present this as a reference framework for endocrinology in the years ahead.

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