Time-Course RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals Stage-Specific and Melatonin-Triggered Gene Expression Patterns During the Hair Follicle Growth Cycle in Capra Hircus

The study used RNA-sequencing to analyze the hair follicles of six Inner Mongolian cashmere goats, three of which were treated with melatonin, over a full hair follicle growth cycle. The researchers identified 3559 and 988 seasonal changing genes (SCGs) in the control and treated groups, respectively, which helped categorize the hair follicle growth cycle into anagen, catagen, and telogen stages. Several pathways, including Wnt, TGF-beta, and Hippo signaling pathways, were found to promote hair follicle growth. Other pathways were detected in the catagen and telogen stages, potentially serving as biomarkers for regeneration. The study also found 941 monthly differentially expressed genes (monthly DEGs) between the control and melatonin-treated groups, suggesting a potential signal pathway map regulating the anagen stage triggered by melatonin. This research provides a foundation for improving cashmere yield.