Lgr5+ ductal cells of von Ebner's glands: Candidate stem cells for turnover of posterior tongue taste buds.

ABSTRACT: Taste bud cells have a limited lifespan and must be continuously replaced along with the papilla epithelium in which they reside. Previous work has shown that expression of leucine-rich G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), a Wnt pathway agonist, serves as a marker of adult stem/progenitor cells for taste buds located in posterior tongue (circumvallate and foliate), but not anterior tongue (fungiform), taste papillae. However, the specific location/niche of the Lgr5-expressing cells supporting renewal and their phenotypic properties have not been fully explored. To address this, the genesis and fate of Lgr5+ cells were examined in developing and adult mice using genetic reporter strains. Evidence from Lgr5-lacZ and Lgr5-GFP mice shows that, while Lgr5 is broadly expressed in the epithelium

SUBMITTER: Harrison TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12829810 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature