Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Key Genes Associated With Hair Follicle Development in Qianhua Mutton Merino

December 2025 in “ Frontiers in Veterinary Science ”

Limin Sun

hair follicle development transcriptome sequencing differentially expressed genes PI3K-Akt pathway MAPK pathway Estrogen signaling KRT27 IGF-2 FGF21 VEGF-D KRT25 KRT26 insulin-like growth factor 2 fibroblast growth factor 21 vascular endothelial growth factor D

Studysummary In this study, researchers explored hair follicle development in Qianhua Mutton Merino sheep, identifying key genes like KRT27 and IGF-2 that impact this process, with findings suggesting significant molecular changes as sheep mature from newborn to one year old. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This study investigated the gene expression profiles of hair follicles in newborn and one-year-old Qianhua Mutton Merino sheep to understand the molecular mechanisms of hair follicle development. Using transcriptome sequencing, 1,637 differentially expressed genes were identified, with significant enrichment in pathways like PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and Estrogen signaling. Key genes such as KRT27, IGF-2, FGF21, VEGF-D, KRT25, and KRT26 were highlighted as crucial for hair follicle development. The study found that the density of hair follicles decreased with age, while the S/P ratio increased. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding wool trait formation in these sheep.

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