Integrated Analysis of miRNAs and mRNA Profiling Reveals the Potential Role of miRNAs in Sheep Hair Follicle Development

This study investigated the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of hair follicles (HFs) in Merino sheep, known for their high-quality wool. Researchers analyzed miRNA data from the skin tissues of 18 Merino sheep at six different developmental stages (four embryonic days and two postnatal days) and identified 87 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs). The study found that certain miRNAs, specifically miR-23b and miR-133, could target and regulate genes ACVR1B and WNT10A, which are important for HF development. Overexpression of miR-133 significantly reduced ACVR1B levels, while overexpression of miR-23b significantly reduced WNT10A levels, both at mRNA and protein expression levels. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of HF development and could contribute to the improvement of sheep HF breeding and the production of fine wool.