The application of intestinal organoids and their co-culture systems in the study of gastrointestinal diseases

Abstract

The 3-dimensional culture of intestinal organoids provides insights into the phenotype and physiology of the intestine. Intestinal organoids comprise intestinal stem cells and differentiated intestinal epithelial cells; they can be stably cultured over the long term and can be genetically manipulated. Current strategies for intestinal organoid co-culture with other cells existing in the intestinal tract and gut microbiota have been established to mimic the intestinal microenvironment and study host-microbial interactions. Therefore, intestinal organoids are promising tools for basic and translational research in gastroenterology. Gastrointestinal diseases are disorders of the intestinal tract that result in a reduced quality of life, and a deep understanding of these diseases would be effective for their treatment. In this review, we discuss how intestinal organoids and intestinal organoids integrated with cellular and microbiota niche components are biologically and physiologically relevant tools for the investigation of gastrointestinal diseases.