Organoid Modeling of Mouse Anterior Tongue Epithelium Reveals Regional and Cellular Identities.

ABSTRACT: The tongue is essential for swallowing, taste perception, and mechanosensation. The anterior and posterior parts of the tongue have region-specific developmental origins and are maintained by adult epithelial stem/progenitor cells. In vitro models that can be used to investigate anterior tongue biology have been lacking. Here, a protocol is developed to generate a long-term expanding organoid model from the adult mouse dorsal anterior tongue. Anterior tongue organoids consist of Lgr6+ cells, Sox2+ stem/progenitor cells, and Hoxc13+ filiform papillae progenitor cells. Furthermore, anterior tongue organoids share region-specific transcriptomic profiles, gene regulatory networks, and signaling pathways with anterior tongue tissue. Anterior tongue organoids can be differentiated into various epithelial cell types, including Merkel-like cells, keratinocytes, and taste bud cells. Gene regulatory network analysis reveals transcriptional programs associated with Krt8+ cell and Krt23+/Sbsn+ keratinocyte differentiation in the organoids. Together, this study provides an in vitro model of mouse dorsal tongue epithelium.

SUBMITTER: Kim SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12697779 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature