The Role of BMP7 in the Proliferation of Hu Sheep Dermal Papilla Cells Is Influenced by DNA Methylation

This study examines how DNA methylation affects the BMP7 gene expression and the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in Hu sheep, which is crucial for hair follicle development. The research found that demethylation using 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine increases BMP7 expression, enhancing DPC proliferation and cell cycle progression. In contrast, overexpression of DNMT1, which promotes methylation, reduces BMP7 expression and inhibits DPC proliferation. These findings suggest that DNA methylation negatively regulates BMP7 expression and DPC proliferation, providing insights into hair follicle growth and potential hair loss treatments. The experiments were conducted with a sample size of 3 for each condition.