Development and applications of primary human sebocyte-derived sebaceous gland organoids

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases around the world, affecting approximately 9.4% of the global population annually. Cellular and animal-based sebaceous gland models are widely employed to elucidate the pathophysiology and mechanisms behind acne. However, non-human animals do not develop acne, nor do they harbor Cutibacterium acnes as a commensal. Furthermore, cellular models are not the best as they cannot recapitulate progenitor-like characteristics of a sebaceous gland. Hence, there is a growing interest in sebaceous gland organoids (SGOs), which recapitulate the growth and differentiation of the gland. Here, we briefly review published SGOs protocols and describe our own model of "sebonoids." We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various SGOs and provide a detailed protocol for generating our version.