Intestinal organoids

Abstract The intestine is increasingly recognized as being important not only for nutrient absorption, but also for regulating metabolism and immune responses. Its epithelial layer includes different cell types fulfilling distinct functions, all arising from stem cells localized at the intestinal crypt base. A striking feature of the intestinal epithelial layer is that it is renewed every 4–5 days, making it an excellent and comprehensive model system to study stem cell regulation, and cell proliferation and differentiation. Until the establishment of intestinal organoid culture in 2009 by Sato et al., we lacked in vitro models that reflected the diversity and complexity of the intestine. Intestinal organoids exhibit the essential properties and functions of the native intestine. Containing all subtypes of intestinal epithelial cells, and conserving intestinal architecture, organoids reflect in vivo physiology well. An ability to cultivate intestinal organoids has brought enormous benefits to molecular research on gastrointestinal processes and pathologies, as well as to stem cell research. Here, we describe how small intestinal and colonic organoids can be grown easily from murine or human tissue.