Differential Expression of miR-202 and Validation of Predicted Target Genes in the Skin Tissue of C57BL/6 Black Mice and BALB/c White Mice

Genetic characterization of Macaca arctoides: A highlight of key genes and pathways

When compared to the approximately 22 other macaque species, Macaca arctoides has many unique phenotypes. These traits fall into various phenotypic categories, including genitalia, coloration, mating, and olfactory traits. Here we used a previously identified whole genome set of 690 outlier genes to look for possible genetic explanations of these unique traits. Of these, 279 genes were annotated miRNAs, which are non-coding. Patterns within the remaining outliers in coding genes were investigated using GO (n = 370) and String (n = 383) analysis, which showed many interconnected immune-related genes. Further, we compared the outliers to candidate pathways associated with M. arcotides' unique phenotypes, revealing 10/690 outlier genes that overlapped these four pathways: hedgehog signaling, WNT signaling, olfactory, and melanogenesis. Of these, genes in all pathways except olfactory had higher F_ST values than the rest of the genes in the genome based on permutation tests. Overall, our results point to many genes each having a small impact on phenotype, working in tandem to cause large systemic changes. Additionally, these results may indicate pleiotropy. This seems to be especially true with the development and coloration of M. arctoides. Our results highlight that development, melanogenesis, immune function, and miRNAs may be heavily involved in M. arctoides' evolutionary history.

MiR-19 3b regulated the formation of coat colors by targeting WNT10A and GNAI2 in Cashmere goats

MiRNAs as a series of small noncoding RNAs that play a crucial part in regulating coat color and hair follicle development. In the previous Solexa sequencing experiments, there were many miRNAs expressed differentially in alpacas with different coat color, including miR-193b.But the mechanism of miR-193b in mammalian pigmentation is still unknown. In this study, bioinformatics analysis showed that WNT10A and GNAI2 might be the target genes of miR-193b. qRT-PCR showed the expression of miR-193b in white Cashmere goats' skins was obviously lower than that in browns, and the expression of WNT10A and GNAI2 were similar with miR-193b. The protein levels of WNT10A and GNAI2 indicated the same findings. Furthermore, the expression of WNT10A and GNAI2 in keratinocytes were analyzed from mRNA and protein levels, the results manifested that the group of overexpression of miR-193b in HaCaT cells increased the expressions of target genes, and miR-193b inhibition group reduced expressions. Luciferase report assays confirmed that the targeting relationship between miR-193b and target genes (WNT10A and GNAI2), the results showed that miR-193b was positively correlated with target genes. These experimental data showed that miR-193b might participate in adjustment of coat color in skin tissue of Cashmere goat by targeting WNT10A and GNAI2.

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.

MiR-125b regulates the differentiation of hair follicles in Fine-wool Sheep and Cashmere goats by targeting MXD4 and FGFR2

With the development of miRNAs identification technology, more and more miRNAs have been discovered, and the role of miRNAs in the development of animal hair follicles has become a focus of research on hair-producing animals. In the previous experiment, compare the microRNA (miRNA) trancriptomes of goats and sheep skin using Solexa sequencing and differentially expressed miR-125b was screened. However, the mechanism of miR-125b regulating hair follicle development is not clear. Therefore, in the present study, the expression of miR-125b, MXD4 and FGFR2 in skin tissue of Fine-wool Sheep and Cashmere goats and HEK-293T cells was examined by qPCR and Western blot. Furthermore, the correlation between miR-125b and the predicted target gene (MXD4, FGFR2) was verified using the Dual-luciferase Reporter assay. We demonstrated that the expression of MXD4 and FGFR2 in Cashmere goats was significantly higher than that of Fine-wool Sheep, and the expression was opposite to that of miR-125b. miR-125b can down-regulate the levels of MXD4 and FGFR2. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-125b could bind to the 3'-UTR region of target genes FGFR2 and MXD4, suggesting that MXD4 and FGFR2 were target genes of miR-125b. This study has shown that the growth and development of hair follicles in skin tissue of Fine-wool Sheep and Cashmere goats from the new regulatory levels of miRNAs, and clarified the mechanism of miR-125b and its target genes in the development of hair follicles in the skin.

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

MicroRNA plays an important regulatory role in the development of all organisms, including hair follicle development. In order to improve domestic cashmere yield, the role of miRNA in hair follicle cycle has become a research hotspot. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which miRNA-203 regulates hair follicle development are not completely understood. In this study, we found that the relevant target genes of miRNA-203 (DDOST and NAE1) were less expressed in telogen by qPCR and Immunoblotting analysis, contrary to the expression mode of miRNA-203. The Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the correlation between miRNA-203 and its target gene expression. The results showed that miRNA-203 specifically binds to the 3 'UTR of DDOST and NAE1, and the expression of miRNA-203 significantly down-regulates the expression of DDOST and NAE1 mRNA and protein. Therefore, this study demonstrates that miRNA-203 may regulate hair follicle development in Cashmere goats by targeting DDOST and NAE1.

miR-149-5p Regulates Goat Hair Follicle Stem Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis by Targeting the CMTM3/AR Axis During Superior-Quality Brush Hair Formation

The Yangtze River Delta white goat is a unique goat species that can produce superior quality brush hair. CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 3 (CMTM3), which influences the transcriptional activity of androgen receptor (AR), was identified as a candidate gene related to superior-quality brush hair formation. CMTM3 is generally expressed at low levels, but miR-149-5p is highly expressed in the skin tissues of these goats. The mechanism by which CMTM3 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of goat hair follicle stem cells has not been elucidated. Here, RT-qPCR, western blotting, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), cell cycle, apoptosis, and dual-luciferase assays were used to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of CMTM3 and miR-149-5p. Functional studies showed that CMTM3 overexpression inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in cultured hair follicle stem cells, whereas silencing CMTM3 markedly facilitated cell proliferation and deterred apoptosis in cultured hair follicle stem cells. Then, using bioinformatic predictions and the aforementioned assays, including dual-luciferase assays, RT-qPCR, and western blotting, we confirmed that miR-149-5p targets CMTM3 and preliminarily investigated the interaction between CMTM3 and AR in goat hair follicle stem cells. Furthermore, miR-149-5p overexpression significantly accelerated the proliferation and attenuated the apoptosis of hair follicle stem cells. Conversely, miR-149-5p inhibition suppressed the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of hair follicle stem cells. These results reveal a miR-149-5p-related regulatory framework for the miR-149-5p/CMTM3/AR axis during superior quality brush hair formation, in which CMTM3 plays a negative role.

MiR-27a regulates WNT3A and KITLG expression in Cashmere goats with different coat colors

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) regulate and control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by base pairing with its target gene 3'UTR, resulting in degradation of the target mRNA or inhibition of its translation. The previous high-throughput sequencing results indicated that miR-27a was involved in coat color regulation. However, the mechanism of action is not still illuminated. In this research, using western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), the expression of miR-27a, WNT3A and KITLG were examined in the skin of Cashmere goats with white and brown, and human embryonic kidney 293 T cells (HEK-293T cells) which over-express miR-27a. Targeting relationship between miR-27a and WNT3A or KITLG was examined by the luciferase reporter gene system. The qRT-PCR detection showed that miR-27a was more highly expressed in white Cashmere goats skin than that in brown Cashmere goats skin. Furthermore, WNT3A and KITLG mRNA and protein expression were down-regulated by miR-27a in vitro and in vivo. A dual-luciferase reporter gene indicated that miR-27a negatively correlates with WNT3A or KITLG. In a word, our research demonstrated that the expression of miR-27a was evidently differential in the white and brown Cashmere goats skin and WNT3A or KITLG was negatively regulated by miR-27a.