Characterization and functional analysis of Krtap11-1 during hair follicle development in Angora rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Quantitative Analysis of Hair Luster in a Novel Ultraviolet-Irradiated Mouse Model

Hair luster is a key attribute of healthy hair and a crucial aspect of cosmetic appeal, reflecting the overall health and vitality of hair. Despite its significance, the advancement of therapeutic strategies for hair luster enhancement have been limited due to the absence of an effective experimental model. This study aimed to establish a novel animal model to assess hair gloss, employing ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on C57BL/6 mice. Specifically, UVB irradiation was meticulously applied to the shaved skin of these mice, simulating conditions that typically lead to hair luster loss in humans. The regrowth and characteristics of the hair were evaluated using a dual approach: an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) scale for subjective assessment and an image-based pixel-count method for objective quantification. These methods provided a comprehensive understanding of the changes in hair quality post-irradiation. To explore the potential reversibility of hair luster changes, oral minoxidil was administered, a treatment known for its effects on hair growth and texture. Further, to gain insights into the underlying biological mechanisms, bulk RNA transcriptomic analysis of skin tissue was conducted. This analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of keratin-associated protein (KRTAP) genes, suggesting modifications in hair keratin crosslinking due to UV exposure. These changes are crucial in understanding the molecular dynamics affecting hair luster. The development of this new mouse model is a significant advancement in hair care research. It not only facilitates the evaluation of hair luster in a controlled setting but also opens avenues for the research and development of innovative therapeutic strategies. This model holds promise for the formulation of more effective hair care products and treatments, potentially revolutionizing the approach towards managing and enhancing hair luster.

Spatiotemporal Expression Characterization of KRTAP6 Family Genes and Its Effect on Wool Traits

Keratin-related proteins (KAPs) are structural components of wool fibers and are thought to play a key role in regulating the physical and mechanical properties of fibers. Among all KAP genes (KRTAPs), KRTAP6 gene family (KRTAP6-1, KRTAP6-2, KRTAP6-3, KRTAP6-4, and KRTAP6-5) is a very important member with high polymorphism and notable association with some wool traits. In this study, we used real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and in situ hybridization to investigate spatiotemporal expression of KRTAP6s. The results revealed that KRTAP6 family genes were significantly expressed during anagen compared to other stages (p < 0.05). And it was found the five genes were expressed predominantly in the dermal papillae, inner and outer root sheaths, and showed a distinct spatiotemporal expression pattern. Also, it was found that KRTAP6-1 and KRTAP6-5 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with wool mean fiber diameter (MFD) and mean staple strength (MSS) (p < 0.05). In summary, the KRTAP6 family genes share a similar spatiotemporal expression pattern. And KRTAP6-1 and KRTAP6-5 may regulate the MFD and MSS of Gansu Alpine fine-wool sheep wool by changing the expression.

lncRNA2919 Suppresses Rabbit Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation via trans-Regulatory Actions

Hair follicles (HFs) are complex organs that grow cyclically during mammals' growth and development. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) cannot be translated into proteins and play crucial roles in many biological processes. In our previous study, candidate lncRNAs associated with HF cyclic regeneration were screened, and we identified that the novel lncRNA, lncRNA2919, was significantly expressed during catagen. Here, we identified that lncRNA2919 has no coding potentiality and is highly expressed in the cell nucleus, and downregulates HF growth and development-related genes, inhibits cell proliferation, and promotes cell apoptosis in rabbit dermal papilla cells. lncRNA2919 recruits STAT1 to form a compound. As a key transcription factor, STAT1 regulates the transcriptional expression of KRTAP11-1. Our study revealed that lncRNA2919 is involved in HF cyclic regeneration through the trans-regulatory lncRNA2919-STAT1-KRTAP11-1 axis. This study elucidates the mechanism through which lncRNA2919 regulates HF growth and development and the role of lncRNA2919 as a new therapeutic target in animal wool production and human hair-related disease treatment.

Identification of Key Pathways and Genes Related to the Development of Hair Follicle Cycle in Cashmere Goats

The development of hair follicle in cashmere goats shows significant periodic change, as with mice and humans. However, for cashmere goat with double-coat, the periodic change may be due to other regulatory molecules and signal pathways. To understand the mechanism of periodic development of hair follicle, we performed a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to mine key genes and establish an interaction network by utilizing the NCBI public dataset. Ten coexpression modules, including 7689 protein-coding genes, were constructed by WGCNA, six of which are considered to be significantly related to the development of the hair follicle cycle. A functional enrichment analysis for each model showed that they are closely related to ECM- receptor interaction, focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, and so on. Combined with the analysis of differential expressed genes, 12 hub genes from coexpression modules were selected as candidate markers, i.e., COL1A1, C1QTNF6, COL1A2, AQP3, KRTAP3-1, KRTAP11-1, FA2H, NDUFS5, DERL2, MRPL14, ANTKMT and XAB2, which might be applied to improve cashmere production.