MiR-218-5p Regulates Skin and Hair Follicle Development Through Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway by Targeting SFRP2

The study demonstrated that miR-218-5p plays a significant role in skin and hair follicle development by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. It was found that miR-218-5p and SFRP2 expressions are inversely related during the catagen and telogen phases of hair growth, with miR-218-5p promoting hair shaft growth. Through luciferase reporter assays, SFRP2 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-218-5p. The downregulation of SFRP2 by miR-218-5p activates the Wnt signaling pathway, which includes downstream gene regulation and β-catenin/T-cell-specific factor transcriptional activity. Additionally, miR-218-5p was shown to enhance apoptosis, while its inhibition decreased apoptosis and reduced RAB-9 cell proliferation, indicating its crucial role in hair follicle regulation.