LncRNAs in Secondary Hair Follicle of Cashmere Goat: Identification, Expression, and Their Regulatory Network in Wnt Signaling Pathway

In a 2017 study, researchers identified 13 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the secondary hair follicles of Cashmere goats and analyzed their expression during different hair follicle cycle phases. They discovered that six lncRNAs were significantly upregulated during the anagen phase, while four were upregulated during the telogen phase. The study also constructed a regulatory network involving these lncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and their target genes within the Wnt signaling pathway, which is essential for hair follicle development and hair growth. This network indicated a complex regulatory relationship that could be influential in the development of secondary hair follicles and the growth of cashmere fiber. The findings provide a basis for future research into the roles of lncRNAs in hair follicle development.