Organoid Culture of Lingual Epithelial Cells in a Three-Dimensional Matrix

A novel lingual epithelial organoid culture system using a three-dimensional (3D) matrix and growth factors has recently been established. In the culture system, organoids with multilayered squamous keratinized epithelium and typical morphological features of filiform papillae are generated from single lingual epithelial cells at a high efficiency. The culture system is created in order to observe the differentiation and maturation process of each lingual epithelial stem cell and to observe abnormal organoid formation from malignant cells obtained from carcinogen-treated mice. Thus, our culture system will contribute to the advancement of research into the regulatory mechanism of lingual epithelium and the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis.