Knockdown of miR-361-5p Promotes Activation of SHF-Stem Cells Through FOXM1 Mediated Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Cashmere Goats

The study explores the role of miR-361-5p in activating secondary hair follicle (SHF) stem cells in cashmere goats, revealing that miR-361-5p negatively regulates this process by binding to and inhibiting FOXM1 mRNA. This inhibition affects the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, essential for SHF-stem cell activation. Knockdown of miR-361-5p increases FOXM1 expression, thereby enhancing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promoting stem cell activation. These findings highlight miR-361-5p's significant regulatory role and suggest potential molecular targets to improve cashmere fiber yield and quality, though further in vivo studies are necessary to confirm these results at the protein level.