College of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P. R. China.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, P. R. China.
Anim Biotechnol. 2023 Jun;34(3):482-494. doi: 10.1080/10495398.2021.1975729. Epub 2021 Sep 22.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of non-coding RNAs, can interact with miRNAs through a sequence-driven sponge mechanism, thereby regulating the expression of their downstream target genes. CircRNA-1967 was found in secondary hair follicles (SHFs) of cashmere goats, but its functions are not clear. Here, we showed that both circRNA-1967 and its host gene BNC2 had significantly higher expression in SHF bulge at anagen than those at telogen of cashmere goats. Also, circRNA-1967 participates in the differentiation of SHF stem cells (SHF-SCs) into hair follicle lineage in cashmere goats. RNA pull-down assay verified that circRNA-1967 interacts with miR-93-3p. We also indicated that circRNA-1967 promoted LEF1 expression in SHF-SCs of cashmere goats. By dual-luciferase reporter analysis, we found that circRNA-1967 up-regulated LEF1 expression through the miR-93-3p-mediated pathway. The results from this study demonstrated that circRNA-1967 participated in the differentiation of goat SHF-SCs into hair follicle lineage by sponging miR-93-3p to enhance LEF1 expression. Our founding might constitute a novel pathway for revealing the potential mechanism of the differentiation of SHF-SCs into hair follicle lineage in cashmere goats. Also, these results provided a valuable basis for further enhancing the intrinsic regeneration of cashmere goat SHFs with the formation and growth of cashmere fibers.
环状 RNA（circRNA）是一类新型的非编码 RNA，可通过序列驱动的海绵机制与 miRNA 相互作用，从而调节其下游靶基因的表达。circRNA-1967 存在于绒山羊次级毛囊（SHF）中，但功能尚不清楚。在这里，我们发现 circRNA-1967 及其宿主基因 BNC2 在绒山羊生长期的 SHF 隆突中表达显著高于休止期。此外，circRNA-1967 参与绒山羊 SHF 干细胞（SHF-SC）向毛囊谱系的分化。RNA 下拉实验验证了 circRNA-1967 与 miR-93-3p 的相互作用。我们还表明，circRNA-1967 促进了绒山羊 SHF-SC 中 LEF1 的表达。通过双荧光素酶报告基因分析，我们发现 circRNA-1967 通过 miR-93-3p 介导的途径上调 LEF1 的表达。本研究结果表明，circRNA-1967 通过海绵吸附 miR-93-3p 促进 LEF1 表达，参与绒山羊 SHF-SC 向毛囊谱系的分化。我们的研究结果可能为揭示绒山羊 SHF-SC 向毛囊谱系分化的潜在机制提供了一条新途径。此外，这些结果为进一步增强绒山羊 SHF 的内在再生能力，促进羊绒纤维的形成和生长提供了有价值的基础。
