Generation of Salivary Gland Organoids from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Salivary glands are exocrine glands composed of several cell types, including the ductal, acinar, and basal/myoepithelial cells. They play important roles in maintaining oral homeostasis and health. During early murine development, the salivary glands, which arise as epithelial buds, are produced from primitive oral epithelia through an interaction between the oral epithelium and mesenchyme.We recently reported that salivary gland organoids can be generated from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We recapitulated the process of embryonic salivary gland development using an organoid culture system. The mouse ESC-derived salivary gland organoids consisted of acinar-, ductal-, and myoepithelial-like cells. In this chapter, we describe a protocol for differentiating salivary gland organoids from ESCs.