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

This study explored the role of DNA methylation in regulating the expression of the BMP7 gene and its impact on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in Hu sheep. It was found that demethylation treatment with 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine increased BMP7 mRNA expression and core promoter activity, promoting DPC proliferation and increasing the percentage of cells in the S phase. Conversely, overexpression of DNMT1 led to reduced proliferation and a decrease in S phase cells. The findings suggest that DNA methylation influences BMP7 gene expression and DPC proliferation, potentially affecting hair follicle patterns in Hu sheep.