Generation of Human Taste Bud Organoids as a Human-Mimetic Platform for Modeling Taste Perception

Authors

Chae, J., Kwon, S. S., Kim, J., Moon, H., Do, V. Q., Zehentner, S., Cho, H.-J., Bhin, J., Moon, S. J., Kim, C. H.

Abstract

We established a human taste bud organoid system derived from circumvallate papillae. This model has been highly anticipated in the field of taste research, where feasible approaches for validating taste biology discovered in rodent models have been limited. Through a stepwise exploratory strategy, we systematically identified and optimized the niche factors required to maintain taste bud organoids and promote their differentiation. This human taste bud organoid system comprises Type I-IV taste receptor cells (TRCs) as well as stem/progenitor cells, and its sensory receptor cells exhibit calcium responses to taste stimuli. Using this system, we identified robust Wnt signaling as a requirement for optimal TRC fate progression, uncovered a human-specific transcriptional program in LGR5<+>, and identified previously unrecognized molecular markers for Type I TRCs. By recapitulating native human taste bud cell diversity and function, this organoid provides a tractable platform for studying human taste biology and dysfunction.

Preprint server: bioRxiv
The authors list and abstract were imported from bioRxiv on 11 Aug 2026.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this preprint? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.