Identification of key pathways and genes that regulate cashmere development in cashmere goats mediated by exogenous melatonin

Abstract

The growth of secondary hair follicles in cashmere goats follows a seasonal cycle. Melatonin can regulate the cycle of cashmere growth. In this study, melatonin was implanted into live cashmere goats. After skin samples were collected, transcriptome sequencing and histological section observation were performed, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify key genes and establish an interaction network. A total of 14 co-expression modules were defined by WGCNA, and combined with previous analysis results, it was found that the blue module was related to the cycle of cashmere growth after melatonin implantation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the first initiation of exogenous melatonin-mediated cashmere development was related mainly to the signaling pathway regulating stem cell pluripotency and to the Hippo, TGF-beta and MAPK signaling pathways. Via combined differential gene expression analyses, 6 hub genes were identified: PDGFRA, WNT5A, PPP2R1A, BMPR2, BMPR1A, and SMAD1. This study provides a foundation for further research on the mechanism by which melatonin regulates cashmere growth.

Melatonin’s effect on hair follicles in a goat (Capra hircus) animal model

“…Melatonin regulates both reproduction and alopecia in humans ( 12 , 45 ). Promotion of secondary hair follicle growth has also been obtained in studies on goats ( 13 ). Melatonin plays a promotional role during in vitro maturation of goat and human oocytes ( 14 , 17 ).…”

“…Melatonin promotes the expression of MTNR1A ( melatonin receptor 1A ) in human and rex rabbit hair follicles ( 42 , 43 ) and also enhances the expression of goat Wnt10b and beta-catenin ( 26 ). The signaling pathways involved in the regulation of hair follicle growth by melatonin are the PI3K/AKT signaling ( 43 ), Hippo, TGF-beta, MAPK signaling ( 13 ), and AKT/GSK3beta/beta-catenin signaling pathways ( 44 ). The results of the present study suggest that the MAPK signaling pathway is also at the forefront of KEGG enrichment.…”

“…A recent meta-analysis showed evidence to support the use of melatonin to promote scalp hair growth, with melatonin being more effective in men with androgenetic alopecia ( 12 ). Moreover, melatonin regulates gene expression in the hair follicles of goats and affects hair follicle growth ( 13 ).…”

“…Melatonin regulates physiological activity in the whole body. Melatonin-associated pathways possibly alleviate radiotherapyinduced alopecia (11). A recent meta-analysis showed evidence to support the use of melatonin to promote scalp hair growth, with melatonin being more effective in men with androgenetic alopecia (12).…”

LncRNA018392 promotes proliferation of Liaoning cashmere goat skin fibroblasts through up-regulation of CSF1R by binding to SPI1

“…There have been 64 lncRNAs with differential expression during melatonin-mediated secondary hair follicle growth in Shaanbei cashmere goats, and lncRNAs TCONS_00255106 and TCONS_00206163 may regulate COL4A2 and THBS2 expression in a cisacting manner 4 . After melatonin implantation in live Inner Mongolian cashmere goats, six pivotal genes correlated with cashmere growth (i.e., PDGFRA, WNT5A, PPP2R1A, BMPR2, BMPR1A, and SMAD) have been identi ed through combinatorial differential gene expression analysis 5 . Existing research on melatonin-promoted cashmere growth has placed a major focus on the gene level 4 , whereas rare studies have reported that melatonin promotes the proliferation of cashmere skin broblasts by regulating noncoding RNAs.…”