Effects of lncRNA MTC on Protein Expression in Skin Fibroblasts of Liaoning Cashmere Goat Based on iTRAQ Technique

The study investigated the role of lncRNA MTC, a new intergenic lncRNA activated by melatonin, in the skin fibroblasts of Liaoning Cashmere goats. The researchers found that specific knockdown of lncRNA MTC inhibits cell proliferation and increases apoptosis. Using iTRAQ reagent, they identified 5931 proteins in the skin fibroblasts, with 123 showing differential expression (32 up-regulated and 91 down-regulated) following lncRNA MTC deletion. The down-regulated proteins were found to be involved in various pathways including cell cycle, mitochondrial function, and skin morphogenesis. The study concluded that lncRNA MTC facilitates the proliferation of skin fibroblasts by regulating proteins involved in cell proliferation, thus potentially aiding hair growth in cashmere goats. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Dalian Science and Technology Innovation Fund Project.