Expression of miRNA-203 and its target gene in hair follicle cycle development of Cashmere goat

MicroRNA-181a Targets GNAI2 and Affects the Proliferation and Induction Ability of Dermal Papilla Cells: The Potential Involvement of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Wool is generated by hair follicles (HFs), which are crucial in defining the length, diameter, and morphology of wool fibers. However, the regulatory mechanism of HF growth and development remains largely unknown. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are a specialized cell type within HFs that play a crucial role in governing the growth and development of HFs. This study aims to investigate the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs to enhance our understanding of the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying ovine HF growth and development. Previous research has demonstrated that microRNA-181a (miR-181a) was differentially expressed in skin tissues with different wool phenotypes, which indicated that miR-181a might play a crucial role in wool morphogenesis. In this study, we revealed that miR-181a inhibited the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry, and alkaline phosphatase staining. Then, we also confirmed G protein subunit alpha i2 (GNAI2) is a target gene of miR-181a by dual luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot, and that it could promote the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs. In addition, GNAI2 could also activate the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway in ovine DPCs. This study showed that miR-181a can inhibit the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs by targeting GNAI2 through the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.

MiR-21 regulated hair follicle cycle development in Cashmere goats by targeting FGF18 and SMAD7

Increasing Cashmere production can add value because it is the primary product of Cashmere goats. Recent years, peoples find miRNAs are crucial in regulating the development of hair follicle. Following Solexa sequencing, many miRNAs were distinguishingly expressed in telogen skin samples of goats and sheep in earlier study. But the method through which miR-21 controls the growth of hair follicles is still ambiguous. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target genes of miR-21. The mRNA level of miR-21 in telogen Cashmere goat skins was higher than in anagen, according to the results of qRT-PCR, and the target genes expressed similarly with miR-21. Western blot showed similar trend, the protein expression of FGF18 and SMAD7 were lower in anagen samples. The Dual-Luciferase reporter assay confirmed miRNA-21's relationship with its target gene, and the consequences indicated found FGF18 and SMAD7 have positive correlations with miR-21. Western blot and qRT-PCR distinguished the expression of protein and mRNA in miR-21 and its target genes. According to the consequence, we found that target genes expression was increased by miR-21 in HaCaT cells. This study identified that miR-21 might take part in the development of Cashmere goat's hair follicles by targeting FGF18 and SMAD7.

Expression of miRNA-1-3p and its target gene in hair follicle cycle development of Liaoning Cashmere goat

MicroRNA exerts an important regulatory role in almost all the biological process, including hair follicle development in Liaoning Cashmere goat. In order to improve the Cashmere performance of goat, the regulatory role of microRNA in hair follicle cycle has drawn hotspot attention. However, the molecular mechanisms of miRNA-1-3p involved in hair follicle development are poorly understood. In this study, we found that miRNA-1-3p was less expressed in anagen stage of hair follicle cycle of Cashmere goat than that in telogen stage by using RT-qPCR and immunoblotting analysis, in contrast to the expression pattern of FGF14. The Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was employed to verify the relationship between miRNA-1-3p and FGF14. The results showed that miRNA-1-3p specifically binds to the 3'UTR of FGF14 mRNA, and FGF14 is the target gene of miR-1-3p. In conclusion, this study shows that miRNA-1-3p may regulate hair follicle development in Liaoning Cashmere goats by targeting FGF14.

An immune-related multi-omics analysis of dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide protein glycosyltransferase in glioma: Prognostic value exploration and competitive endogenous RNA network identification

Dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide protein glycosyltransferase (DDOST) plays a pivotal role in the glycosylation of asparagine residues on nascent polypeptides. However, the biological role of DDOST in glioma remains unclear. The mRNA expression of DDOST in glioma was identified using TCGA, CGGA, GEO and Rembrandt datasets. Immunohistochemistry assay was conducted to examine the protein level of DDOST. Cox regression analysis, nomograms and calibration plots were used to evaluate the prognostic value of DDOST. The association between DDOST and immune cell infiltration was evaluated using CIBERSORT algorithm. Additionally, DNA methylation and ceRNA regulatory network of DDOST expression were investigated using the LinkedOmics and ENCORI databases. The authors found that DDOST was substantially expressed at the mRNA and protein levels. Functional enrichment analysis revealed close associations between DDOST and immune-related pathways, as well as immune cell infiltration. In addition, DDOST exhibited synergistic effects with tumour mutational burden (TMB) and other immune checkpoints. For expression regulation mechanisms, DDOST had low DNA methylation levels in high-grade gliomas and may be involved in multiple ceRNA networks in glioma. Thus, DDOST may serve as an unfavourable biomarker for gliomas. DNA methylation and ceRNA regulatory networks of DDOST expression were identified for the first time in this multi-omics study.

Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 and an Interacting Non-Coding RNA on Secondary Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells in Cashmere Goats' Follicle Development Assessed by Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing Technology

Cashmere, a keratinised product of secondary hair follicles (SHFs) in cashmere goats, holds an important place in international high-end textiles. However, research on the complex molecular and signal regulation during the development and growth of hair follicles (HFs), which is essential for the development of the cashmere industry, is limited. Moreover, increasing evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) participate in HF development. Herein, we systematically investigated a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network mediated by circular RNAs (circRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in skin samples of cashmere goat embryos, using whole-transcriptome sequencing technology. We obtained 6468, 394, and 239 significantly differentially expressed mRNAs, circRNAs, and miRNAs, respectively. These identified RNAs were further used to construct a ceRNA regulatory network, mediated by circRNAs, for cashmere goats at a late stage of HF development. Among the molecular species identified, miR-184 and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 10 exhibited competitive targeted interactions. In secondary HF dermal papilla cells (SHF-DPCs), miR-184 promotes proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and alters the cell cycle via the competitive release of FGF10. This study reports that FGF10 and its interaction with ncRNAs significantly affect SHF-DPCs, providing a reference for research on the biology of HFs in cashmere goats and other mammals.

The Identification and Characteristics of miRNAs Related to Cashmere Fiber Traits in Skin Tissue of Cashmere Goats

microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of biological phenomena by down-regulating the expression of mRNAs. In this study, Liaoning cashmere (LC) goats (n = 6) and Ziwuling black (ZB) goats (n = 6) with different cashmere fiber production performances were selected. We supposed that miRNAs are responsible for the cashmere fiber trait differences. To test the hypothesis, the expression profiles of miRNAs from the skin tissue of the two caprine breeds were compared using small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). A total of 1293 miRNAs were expressed in the caprine skin samples, including 399 known caprine miRNAs, 691 known species-conserved miRNAs, and 203 novel miRNAs. Compared with ZB goats, 112 up-regulated miRNAs, and 32 down-regulated miRNAs were found in LC goats. The target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were remarkably concentrated on some terms and pathways associated with cashmere fiber performance, including binding, cell, cellular protein modification process, and Wnt, Notch, and MAPK signaling pathways. The miRNA-mRNA interaction network found that 14 miRNAs selected may contribute to cashmere fiber traits regulation by targeting functional genes associated with hair follicle activities. The results have reinforced others leading to a solid foundation for further investigation of the influences of individual miRNAs on cashmere fiber traits in cashmere goats.

Regulation of secondary hair follicle cycle in cashmere goats by miR-877-3p targeting IGFBP5 gene

Cashmere, a highly valuable animal product derived from cashmere goats, holds significant economic importance. MiRNAs serve as crucial regulators in the developmental processes of mammalian hair follicles. Understanding the regulation of miRNAs during the hair follicle cycle is essential for enhancing cashmere quality. In this investigation, we employed high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the expression profiles of miRNAs in the secondary hair follicles of Jiangnan cashmere goats at different stages. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs). The regulatory relationships between miRNAs and their target genes were verified using multiple techniques, including RT-qPCR, western blot, Dual-Luciferase Reporter, and CKK-8 assays. Our findings revealed the presence of 193 DE miRNAs during various stages of the hair follicle cycle in Jiangnan cashmere goats. Based on the previously obtained mRNA data, the target genes of DE miRNA were predicted, and 1,472 negative regulatory relationships between DE miRNAs and target genes were obtained. Notably, the expression of chi-miR-877-3p was down-regulated during the telogen (Tn) phase compared to the anagen (An) and catagen (Cn) phases, while the IGFBP5 gene exhibited up-regulation. Further validation experiments confirmed that overexpression of chi-miR-877-3p in dermal papilla cells suppressed IGFBP5 gene expression and facilitated cell proliferation. The results of this study provide novel insights for analyzing the hair follicle cycle.

Comparative Analysis of mRNA and miRNA Expression between Dermal Papilla Cells and Hair Matrix Cells of Hair Follicles in Yak

The interaction between the dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and epidermal hair matrix cells (HMCs) of hair follicles (HFs) is crucial for the growth and development of HFs, but the molecular mechanism is complex and remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the key signaling molecules for cellular communication. In this study, the DPCs and HMCs of yak were isolated and cultured, and the differentially expressed mRNA and miRNA were characterized to analyze the molecular basis of the interaction between DPCs and HMCs during hair follicle (HF) development in yak. The mRNA differential expression and functional enrichment analysis revealed that there were significant differences between DPCs and HMCs, and they showed the molecular functional characteristics of dermal cells and epidermal cells, respectively. Multiple KEGG pathways related to HF development were enriched in the highly expressed genes in DPCs, while the pathways associated with microbiota and immunity were significantly enriched in the highly expressed genes in HMCs. By combining analysis with our previous 10× genomics single-cell transcriptome data, 39 marker genes of DPCs of yak were identified. A total of 123 relatively specifically expressed miRNAs were screened; among these, the miRNAs associated with HF development such as miR-143, miR-214, miR-125b, miR-31, and miR-200 were presented. In conclusion, the large changes in yak DPCs and HMCs for both mRNA and miRNA expression were revealed, and numerous specifically expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in DPCs or HMCs were identified, which may contribute to the interaction and cellular communication between DPCs and HMCs during HF development in yak.

Application of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network analysis in the treatment of androgenic alopecia

BACKGROUND

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be used as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to bind to microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate gene expression. Previous studies have demonstrated that ceRNAs play an important role in the development of tumors. However, it is not clear whether the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network plays a role in androgenic alopecia (AGA).

METHODS

The hair follicles of three AGA patients and three healthy individuals were collected for high-throughput whole transcriptome sequencing to screen for differentially expressed lncRNAs. Differentially expressed lncRNA target genes were subjected to databases to predict miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA relationship pairs, and a ceRNA network was constructed using Cytoscape software. Relative expression was verified by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

84 lncRNAs were significantly differentially expressed between the hair follicles of AGA patients and those of healthy individuals; 30 were upregulated, and 54 were downregulated. The top 10 upregulated lncRNAs were ENST00000501520, ENST00000448179, ENST00000318291, ENST00000568280, ENST00000561121, ENST00000376609, ENST00000602414, ENST00000573866, ENST00000513358, and ENST00000564194. The top 10 downregulated lncRNAs were ENST00000566804, ENST00000561973, ENST00000587680, ENST00000569927, ENST00000340444, ENST00000424345, ENST00000589787, NR_024344, NR_073026, and NR_110001. The qRT-PCR validation results and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that one upregulated lncRNA, LOXL1-AS1 (ENST00000564194), had the most significant clinical diagnostic potential. After further analysis, it was concluded that LOXL1-AS1 could be used as a sponge to target hsa-miR-5193, thereby regulating TP53 expression.

CONCLUSION

The ceRNA network-regulating AGA was constructed through high-throughput sequencing. Our study also identified a key lncRNA that is possibly related to the AGA pathological process.

Construction and functional analysis of ceRNA regulatory network related to the development of secondary hair follicles in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats

Cashmere goat hair follicles are divided into primary hair follicles and secondary hair follicles. The primary hair follicles produce coarse hair, and the secondary hair follicles produce cashmere. The development of hair follicles is affected by a variety of signaling molecules and pathways. Studies have shown that non-coding RNAs are widely involved in the development of hair follicles of the goat, including small RNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). In recent years, circRNAs, as a new type of circular closed non-coding RNAs, have attracted great attention due to their high stability. However, its regulatory effect on cashmere goat hair follicles mainly focuses on the periodic regulation of secondary hair follicles, and there is no report on the development of cashmere goat hair follicles during the fetal period. Therefore, this study was based on the circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression profiles obtained by whole-transcriptional sequencing of the skin tissue of the Inner Mongolia cashmere goats in the fetal period (days 45, 55, 65, and 75) and screening out the morphological changes of hair follicles at different periods. A total of 113 circRNAs related to the development of secondary hair follicles were present. According to the principle of the ceRNA regulatory network, a ceRNA regulatory network composed of 13 circRNAs, 21 miRNAs, and 110 mRNAs related to the development of secondary hair follicles was constructed. Then, qRT-PCR and Sanger sequencing identified circRNA2034, circRNA5712, circRNA888, and circRNA9127 were circRNAs. Next, the dual-luciferase reporter gene verified the targeting relationship of circRNA5712-miR-27b-3p-Dll4. In conclusion, this study constructed a ceRNA regulatory network for the development of cashmere goat secondary hair follicles, laying a foundation for the analysis of circRNAs regulating the morphogenesis and development of cashmere goat secondary hair follicles through the ceRNA mechanism.

miR-29a-5p Inhibits Prenatal Hair Placode Formation Through Targeting EDAR by ceRNA Regulatory Network

Hair placode formation is an important stage of hair follicle morphogenesis and it is a complex process facilitated by non-coding RNAs. In this study, we conducted whole transcriptome sequencing analysis of skin, heart, liver, lung, and kidney tissues of day 41 (E41) normal and hairless pig embryos, and respectively detected 15, 8, and 515 skin-specific differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Furthermore, 18 competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed. Following weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of stages E39, E41, E45, E52, and E60, between normal and hairless pig embryos, only two ceRNAs (lncRNA2162.1/miR-29a-5p/BMPR1b and lncRNA627.1/miR-29a-5p/EDAR) that showed period-specific differential expression in E41 skin were retained. Dual-luciferase reporter assays further indicated that EDAR was a direct, functioning target of miR-29a-5p and that no binding site was found in BMPR1b. Moreover, miR-29a-5p overexpression inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of EDAR while no significant differential expression of BMPR1b was detected. In addition, over-expressed lncRNA627.1 reduces the expression of miR-29a-5p and increase EDAR expression while inhibits lncRNA627.1 resulted in a opposite expression trend. Cell proliferation result demonstrated that lower expression of EDAR and lncRNA627.1 inhibited hair placode precursor cells (HPPCs) proliferation in a manner similar to that shown by over-expressed miR-29a-5p. This study identified that miR-29a-5p inhibited HPPCs proliferation via the suppression of EDAR expression in the EDA/EDAR signaling pathway, while lncRNA627.1 rescues EDAR expression. Our study provides a basis for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the ceRNA complex, miR29a-5p/EDAR/lncRNA627.1, that could regulate hair placode formation, which may help decipher diseases affecting human hair.

Screening of microRNA and mRNA related to secondary hair follicle morphogenesis and development and functional analysis in cashmere goats

microRNA (miRNA) is a type of endogenous short-chain non-coding RNA with regulatory function found in eukaryotes, which is involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular and biological processes. However, the research on the development of cashmere goat secondary hair follicles is still relatively scarce. In this study, small RNA libraries and mRNA libraries of 45 days, 55 days, 65 days, and 75 days of fetal skin of cashmere goats were constructed, and the constructed libraries were sequenced using Illumina Hiseq4000, and the expression profiles of miRNA and mRNA in cashmere goat fetal skin were obtained. The differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in six control groups were identified and the qRT-PCR experiment shows that the sequencing results are accurate. Sixty-six miRNAs related to secondary hair follicle development were screened, and used TargetScan and miRanda to predict 33 highly expressed miRNA target genes. At the same time, 664 mRNAs related to the development of secondary hair follicles were screened, and GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed. It was found that some miRNA target genes were consistent with the screening results of mRNAs related to secondary hair follicle development and were enriched in Notch signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway. Therefore, miR-145-5p-DLL4, miR-27b-3p-DLL4, miR-30e-5p-DLL4, miR-193b-3p-TGF-β1, miR-181b-5p-NOTCH2, and miR-103-3p-NOTCH2 regulatory network related to the development of secondary hair follicles were constructed and the results of dual-luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that there is a targeted relationship between chi-miR-30e-5p and DLL4, which will provide a basis for molecular mechanism of miRNA-mRNA in the development of the hair follicles in cashmere goats.

Perspectives on miRNAs Targeting DKK1 for Developing Hair Regeneration Therapy

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) remains an unsolved problem for the well-being of humankind, although multiple important involvements in hair growth have been discovered. Up until now, there is no ideal therapy in clinical practice in terms of efficacy and safety. Ultimately, there is a strong need for developing a feasible remedy for preventing and treating AGA. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical in hair restoration. Thus, AGA treatment via modulating this pathway is rational, although challenging. Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is distinctly identified as an inhibitor of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Thus, in order to stimulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, inhibition of DKK1 is greatly demanding. Studying DKK1-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may lay the groundwork for the promotion of hair growth. Bearing in mind that DKK1 inhibition in the balding scalp of AGA certainly makes sense, this review sheds light on the perspectives of miRNA-mediated hair growth for treating AGA via regulating DKK1 and, eventually, modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Consequently, certain miRNAs regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via DKK1 inhibition might represent attractive candidates for further studies focusing on promoting hair growth and AGA therapy.

The Roles of Non-coding RNA in the Development and Regeneration of Hair Follicles: Current Status and Further Perspectives

Alopecia is a common problem that affects almost every age group and is considered to be an issue for cosmetic or psychiatric reasons. The loss of hair follicles (HFs) and hair caused by alopecia impairs self-esteem, thermoregulation, tactile sensation and protection from ultraviolet light. One strategy to solve this problem is HF regeneration. Many signalling pathways and molecules participate in the morphology and regeneration of HF, such as Wnt/β-catenin, Sonic hedgehog, bone morphogenetic protein and Notch. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNAs and long ncRNAs, have significant modulatory roles in HF development and regeneration via regulation of these signalling pathways. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the status and future prospects of ncRNAs in HF regeneration and could prompt novel ncRNA-based therapeutic strategies.

Expression Profiling and Functional Analysis of Circular RNAs in Inner Mongolian Cashmere Goat Hair Follicles

Background

Inner Mongolian cashmere goats have hair of excellent quality and high economic value, and the skin hair follicle traits of cashmere goats have a direct and important effect on cashmere yield and quality. Circular RNA has been studied in a variety of tissues and cells.

Result

In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to obtain the expression profiles of circular RNA (circRNA) in the hair follicles of Inner Mongolian cashmere goats at different embryonic stages (45, 55, 65, and 75 days). A total of 21,784 circRNAs were identified. At the same time, the differentially expressed circRNA in the six comparison groups formed in the four stages were: d75vsd45, 59 upregulated and 33 downregulated DE circRNAs; d75vsd55, 61 upregulated and 102 downregulated DE circRNAs; d75vsd65, 32 upregulated and 33 downregulated DE circRNAs; d65vsd55, 67 upregulated and 169 downregulated DE circRNAs; d65vsd45, 96 upregulated and 63 downregulated DE circRNAs; and d55vsd45, 76 upregulated and 42 downregulated DE circRNAs. Six DE circRNA were randomly selected to verify the reliability of the sequencing results by quantitative RT-PCR. Subsequently, the circRNA corresponding host genes were analyzed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. The results showed that the biological processes related to hair follicle growth and development enriched by GO mainly included hair follicle morphogenesis and cell development, and the signaling pathways related to hair follicle development included the Notch signaling pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway. We combined the DE circRNA of d75vsd45 with miRNA and mRNA databases (unpublished) to construct the regulatory network of circRNA–miRNA–mRNA, and formed a total of 102 pairs of circRNA–miRNA and 126 pairs of miRNA–mRNA interactions. The binding relationship of circRNA3236–chi-miR-27b-3p and circRNA3236–chi-miR-16b-3p was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter assays, and the results showed that circRNA3236 and chi-miR-27b-3p, and circRNA3236 and chi-miR-16b-3p have a targeted binding relationship.

Conclusion

To summarize, we established the expression profiling of circRNA in the fetal skin hair follicles of cashmere goats, and found that the host gene of circRNA may be involved in the development of hair follicles of cashmere goats. The regulatory network of circRNA–miRNA–mRNA was constructed and preliminarily verified using DE circRNAs.