Identification of Potential miRNA–mRNA Regulatory Network Associated with Growth and Development of Hair Follicles in Forest Musk Deer

The study investigated the miRNA–mRNA regulatory network associated with hair follicle (HF) growth and development in forest musk deer (FMD) using RNA-seq technology. Researchers identified 565 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 186 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) between the anagen and catagen stages of HFs. Key pathways such as Wnt, BMP, PI3K-Akt, and Notch signaling were significantly enriched. Validation through RT-qPCR confirmed the RNA-seq results. The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of HF development, which could help improve hair quality and conservation efforts.