[NTR]MUC1-positive enterocyte described by Stellar pipeline snRNAseq + CODEX/Phenocycler John Hickey

[emquardokus]

Please check that the term does not already exist by using the ontology search tool OLS:
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontologies/cl

Preferred term label

• MUC1-positive enterocyte

Synonyms (add reference(s), please)

Definition (free text, with reference(s), please. PubMed ID format is PMID:XXXXXX)
Description:
Definition: An enterocyte of the human intestine expressing elevated levels of mucin 1 (MUC1).
Localization: Found throughout the intestine but identified as a distinct subset due to higher MUC1 expression.
Characteristics: While MUC1 is broadly expressed in epithelial cells, this subset of enterocytes exhibits increased MUC1 levels, suggesting specialized roles.
Significance: Elevated MUC1 expression may enhance mucosal barrier functions and participate in cell signaling, potentially contributing to protective mechanisms in the intestinal epithelium.
Clarification on MUC1 Expression:
Not all enterocytes express MUC1 at the same levels. The designation of "MUC1-positive" enterocytes refers to those with notably higher expression, distinguishing them from other enterocyte populations.
Definition for Cell Ontology:
MUC1-positive enterocyte: An enterocyte of the human intestine expressing elevated levels of mucin 1 (MUC1). These cells have a distinct expression profile compared to other enterocytes and are scattered throughout the intestinal epithelium.

Hickey, John W., Winston R. Becker, Stephanie A. Nevins, Aaron Horning, Almudena Espin Perez, Chenchen Zhu, Bokai Zhu, et al. 2023. “Organization of the Human Intestine at Single-Cell Resolution.” Nature 619 (7970): 572–84. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05915-x.

Parent cell type term (check the hierarchy here https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontologies/cl)
enterocyte CL:0000584

Anatomical structure where the cell type is found (check Uberon for anatomical structures: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontologies/uberon)

intestinal epithelium UBERON:0001277

Your ORCID
Ellen M. Quardokus 0000-0001-7655-4833
John W. Hickey 0000-0001-9961-7673

Additional notes or concerns
Additional Clarifications
Regional Localization:
MUC1-positive enterocytes: Present throughout the intestine but identified as a distinct subset based on expression levels.
Disease Association:
Hickey et al 2023. Nature 619 (7970): 572–84. study focused on healthy intestinal tissues. The expression of these markers in enterocytes within healthy samples suggests that they are part of normal physiological processes rather than disease states.
Need for Specific Designations:
MUC1-positive enterocytes: Although MUC1 is a common epithelial marker, the subset identified exhibits higher expression levels, indicating potential specialized functions that warrant separate classification.
Summary
We identified this enterocyte type to capture the heterogeneity within the intestinal epithelium:
MUC1-positive enterocytes are distinguished by elevated MUC1 expression, suggesting unique functional roles.