Single-Cell Sequencing Reveals Differential Cell Types in Skin Tissues of Liaoning Cashmere Goats and Key Genes Potentially Related to the Fineness of Cashmere Fiber

The study used single-cell sequencing to identify 13 different cell types in the skin tissues of Liaoning Cashmere goats. The researchers found that the fineness of cashmere fiber is potentially related to specific key genes, including ACTA2, COL1A1, and CXCL8. ACTA2 was identified as a marker gene of secondary hair follicle dermal papilla cells (SDPCs), which play a crucial role in the growth and density of cashmere. COL1A1 was highly expressed in SDPCs, and CXCL8 showed differential expression in coarse and fine types of cashmere. Other genes such as KRT5, KRT14, CCL27, ADIRF, and LY6D were differentially expressed in epidermis stem cells. The study also identified genes like KRTDAP, CST6, KRT35, and KRTAP11-1 that may be related to cashmere character. The study provides new insights into the cellular mechanisms regulating cashmere growth and fineness.