Enteroendocrine cell
Actions of the major digestive hormones secreted by enteroendocrine cells
Details
System	Endocrine system
Location	Gastrointestinal tract
Identifiers
Latin	endocrinocyti gastroenteropancreatici
MeSH	D019858
TH	H3.04.02.0.00024, H3.08.01.0.00003
FMA	62930
Anatomical terms of microanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Enteroendocrine cells are specializedcells of thegastrointestinal tract andpancreas withendocrine function. They producegastrointestinal hormones or peptides in response to various stimuli and release them into the bloodstream for systemic effect, diffuse them aslocal messengers, or transmit them to theenteric nervous system to activate nervous responses.^[1][2] Enteroendocrine cells of the intestine are the most numerous endocrine cells of the body.^[3][4][5] They constitute anenteric endocrine system as a subset of theendocrine system just as theenteric nervous system is a subset of thenervous system.^[6] In a sense they are known to act aschemoreceptors, initiating digestive actions and detecting harmful substances and initiating protective responses.^[7][8] Enteroendocrine cells are located in the stomach, in the intestine and in the pancreas. Microbiota play key roles in the intestinal immune and metabolic responses in these enteroendocrine cells via their fermentation product (short chain fatty acid),acetate.^[9]

Intestinal enteroendocrine cells are not clustered together but spread as single cells throughout the intestinal tract.^[7]

Hormones secreted includesomatostatin,motilin,cholecystokinin,neurotensin,vasoactive intestinal peptide, andenteroglucagon.^[10] The enteroendocrine cells sense the metabolites from intestinal commensalmicrobiota and, in turn, coordinate antibacterial, mechanical, and metabolic branches of the host intestinal innate immune response to the commensal microbiota.^[11]

K cells secretegastric inhibitory peptide, anincretin, which also promotes triglyceride storage.^[12] K cells are mostly found in the duodenum.^[13]

Also calledneuropod cell.L cells secreteglucagon-like peptide-1, an incretin, peptide YY_3-36,oxyntomodulin andglucagon-like peptide-2. L cells are primarily found in theileum andlarge intestine (colon), but some are also found in theduodenum andjejunum.^[14]

I cells secretecholecystokinin (CCK), and have the highestmucosal density in theduodenum with a decreasing amount throughout thesmall intestine.^[15] They modulate bile secretion, exocrine pancreas secretion, and satiety.^[16]

Stomach enteroendocrine cells, known asG cells releasegastrin, and stimulate gastric acid secretion.^[17]

Enterochromaffin cells are enteroendocrine andneuroendocrine cells with a close similarity to adrenomedullarychromaffin cells secretingserotonin.^[18]

Enterochromaffin-like cells or ECL cells are a type of neuroendocrine cell secretinghistamine.

Located in an increasing manner throughout thesmall intestine, with the highest levels found in the inileum,^[19] N cells releaseneurotensin, and control smooth muscle contraction.^[20]

S cells secretesecretin mostly from theduodenum, but also in decreasing amounts throughout the rest of thesmall intestine,^[21] and stimulate exocrine pancreatic secretion.^[16]

Also called Delta cells, D cells secretesomatostatin.

• found in crypts of the small intestine, especially in the duodenum and jejunum.
• Different from theMicrofold cells (M cells) that are inPeyer's patches.
• Secretemotilin^[22][23]

Gastric enteroendocrine cells are found in thegastric glands, mostly at their base. TheG cells secretegastrin, post-ganglionic fibers of the vagus nerve can releasegastrin-releasing peptide duringparasympathetic stimulation to stimulate secretion.Enterochromaffin-like cells are enteroendocrine and neuroendocrine cells also known for their similarity to chromaffin cells secretinghistamine, which stimulates G cells to secrete gastrin.

Other hormones produced includecholecystokinin,somatostatin,vasoactive intestinal peptide,substance P,alpha andgamma-endorphin.^[10][24]

Pancreatic enteroendocrine cells are located in theislets of Langerhans and produce most importantly the hormonesinsulin andglucagon. Theautonomous nervous system strongly regulates their secretion, with parasympathetic stimulation stimulating insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon secretion and sympathetic stimulation having opposite effect.^[25]

Other hormones produced includesomatostatin,pancreatic polypeptide,amylin andghrelin.

Rare and slow growingcarcinoid and non-carcinoid tumors develop from these cells. When a tumor arises it has the capacity to secrete large volumes of hormones.^[2][26]

The very discovery of hormones occurred during studies of how the digestive system regulates its activities, as explained atSecretin § Discovery.

In rats (Rattus rattus) theFree fatty acid receptor 2 (GPR43) is expressed both by this cell type and bymast cells of themucosa.^[27]

• APUD cells
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• List of human cell types derived from the germ layers

• Histology image: 11604loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Endocrine System: duodenum, enteroendocrine cells"

• Endocrine system
• Animal cells
• Stomach
• Secretory cells

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