Construction of Transcriptome Atlas of White Yak Hair Follicle During Anagen and Catagen Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

The study used single-cell RNA sequencing to create a transcriptome atlas of white yak hair follicles during the anagen and catagen phases, analyzing 24,124 single cells from three healthy Tianzhu white yaks. It identified eight major cell groups and examined gene expression dynamics, highlighting key signaling pathways such as Wnt, β-catenin, BMP, and TNF-α involved in hair follicle cycling. The research revealed significant pathways related to epidermal development and cell differentiation, with genes like KRT10, KRT25, and KRT71 playing roles in hair follicle development. The absence of the SOX2 gene, found in other species, indicated species-specific differences in hair follicle specialization. This work provided insights into the molecular processes governing yak hair follicle morphogenesis and regeneration.