Molecular Signaling and Nutritional Regulation in the Context of Poultry Feather Growth and Regeneration

Abstract

The normal growth and regeneration of feathers is important for improving the welfare and economic value of poultry. Feather follicle stem cells are the basis for driving feather development and are regulated by various molecular signaling pathways in the feather follicle microenvironment. To date, the roles of the Wnt, Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP), Notch, and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathways in the regulation of feather growth and regeneration are among the best understood. While these pathways regulate feather morphogenesis in different stages, their dysregulation results in a low feather growth rate, poor quality of plumage, and depilation. Additionally, exogenous nutrient intervention can affect the feather follicle cycle, promote the formation of the feather shaft and feather branches, preventing plumage abnormalities. This review focuses on our understanding of the signaling pathways involved in the transcriptional control of feather morphogenesis and explores the impact of nutritional factors on feather growth and regeneration in poultry. This work may help to develop novel mechanisms by which follicle stem cells can be manipulated to produce superior plumage that enhances poultry carcass quality.

Multi-Stage Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Growth Mechanism of Feathers and Hair Follicles during Induction Molting by Fasting in the Late Stage of Egg Laying

“…Adult chicken feathers undergo a cyclical development pattern, consisting of anagenesis, regression, and rest. Normal feather growth and regeneration play a crucial role in improving the welfare and economic value of poultry [18]. However, normal laying hens typically experience a loss of 10% to 15% of their feathers by 40 weeks of age [19].…”

Plumage Response of Young Turkeys to Diets with Increased Methionine to Lysine Ratios at Three Dietary Arginine Levels

“…Methionine injected in ovo increased the density and diameter of chicken-embryo feather follicles [ 43 ]. Methionine has been found to promote follicle and feather growth in developing chick embryos by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway [ 44 , 45 ].…”

In Ovo Injection of CHIR-99021 Promotes Feather Follicle Development via Modulating the Wnt Signaling Pathway and Transcriptome in Goose Embryos (Anser cygnoides)

“…However, it is notable that the promoted effects were driven by the injection dose and the time after receiving the injection. The economic value of a feather determines that a higher feather yield, feather quality, and growth rate are beneficial to the goose industry ( Chen, et al, 2020a ). Although strategies on nutrition and management are improving this status, some genetic and physiological bases still are limited.…”

“…During the developmental process of feather formation, transduction molecules, transcription factors, and other genetic factors synergistically and/or independently influence the dynamic morphogenesis of skin and feather follicles ( Inamatsu, et al, 2006 ; Jiang, et al, 2011 ). Studies have confirmed that the Wnt, TGF-β, MAPK, and BMP signaling pathways are candidate morphogens associated with feather follicle development during embryogenesis ( Chen, et al, 2020a ; Ji, et al, 2021 ; Zheng, et al, 2020 ). Particularly, the Wnt is the initial signal for feather follicle development and participates in each stage of feather follicle morphogenesis, such as placode formation, dermal papillae function, feather follicle cycle, and proliferation and differentiation of feather follicle stem cells ( Andl, et al, 2002 ; García de Herreros and Duñach, 2019 ; Huelsken, et al, 2001 ; Kaushal, et al, 2015 ; Nusslein-Volhard and Wieschaus, 1980 ; Telerman, et al, 2017 ; Tsai, et al, 2014 ; Wong, et al, 1994 ; Wu, et al, 2020 ).…”