Transcriptome analysis reveals the key long non-coding RNAs and genes related to cashmere shedding in goats

The cashmere goat is renowned for the exceptional quality of cashmere fibers. The shedding of cashmere is closely related to the production processes in cashmere goats, but its molecular regulatory mechanism is not fully understood.

In this study, we collected skin tissues from both already-shed cashmere goats (AS) and non-shed cashmere goats (NS). Morphological differences were observed, and the relative expression levels of indicator genes distinguishing anagen from telogen phases of hair follicles were assessed. Whole transcriptome sequencing was employed to investigate key regulatory factors including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and different expression genes (DEGs) and followed by preliminary validation, interaction network construction and functional verification.

Comparative histological analysis found that the density, depth, width, hair bulb width and activity of secondary hair follicles (SHFs) in AS individuals were significantly lower than those in NS individuals. Expression detection results of indicator genes distinguishing anagen from telogen indicated that the SHFs of NS individuals were predominantly in telogen phase, whereas those of AS individuals showed a greater tendency towards anagen phase. Transcriptome sequencing analysis identified 450 DEGs with 338 upregulated and 112 downregulated. as Additionally, 352 lncRNAs with different expression were detected, including 168 upregulated and 184 downregulated. Regulatory networks involving lncRNAs and their co-expressed DEGs were established. The lncRNA LOC108637151 and its co-expression gene, Selenoprotein P (SEPP1), were identified as key regulatory factors of cashmere shedding in goats, both exhibiting elevated expression levels in AS individuals. The overexpression of LOC108637151 in dermal papilla cells (DPCs) resulted in the increased expression of its target gene SEPP1 and promoted the proliferation of DPCs in cashmere goats.

This study identified key lncRNAs and genes related to cashmere shedding in goats, as well as their regulatory relationships. The results provided a basis for revealing the potential molecular mechanisms underlying cashmere shedding in goats.