Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats
Abstract Background Melatonin improves the production performance of animal furs, particularly in promoting wool and cashmere growth. Although most studies of melatonin enhancing cashmere growth have focused primarily on gene and phenotype levels, its impact on metabolites has not received attention...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11389-0 |
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| author | Xiaogao Diao Jiaxin Qin Chenxi Dong Liwen He Wei Zhang |
| author_facet | Xiaogao Diao Jiaxin Qin Chenxi Dong Liwen He Wei Zhang |
| author_sort | Xiaogao Diao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Melatonin improves the production performance of animal furs, particularly in promoting wool and cashmere growth. Although most studies of melatonin enhancing cashmere growth have focused primarily on gene and phenotype levels, its impact on metabolites has not received attention. To investigate the influence of melatonin on metabolites, genes, gene‒metabolite interactions, and associated signaling pathways in secondary hair follicles (SHFs), we performed multiomics analyses of skin and blood samples collected 30 days after sustained melatonin release. Results The results demonstrated that two melatonin interventions during SHF anagen in cashmere goats induce the early growth of SHFs, increase the active secondary follicle density (ASFD), and improve cashmere yield and quality. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 509 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including key genes such as KRTs and KRTAP s, and genes associated with the WNT signaling pathway (LEF1, WNT3/4, and FZD3/5), suggesting their critical roles in melatonin-mediated SHF development. Metabolomic analysis revealed 842 metabolites in the skin samples and 1,162 in the blood samples. Among these, 177 differentially regulated metabolites (DRMs) in the skin were significantly enriched in pathways such as alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), and several amino acid metabolic pathways. Similarly, 122 DRMs in the blood were enriched in pathways related to protein digestion and absorption, central carbon metabolism in cancer, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. Finally, the integrative analysis revealed partially coenriched metabolic pathways and relationships between DEGs and DRMs. Conclusions In summary, by integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics, this study provides novel insights into the role of melatonin in promoting SHF development. Furthermore, these findings establish a theoretical foundation for the broader application of melatonin-based technologies to promote cashmere growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4b2698414a148b380263a42e8ca1a42 |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4b2698414a148b380263a42e8ca1a422025-08-20T03:03:57ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642025-02-0126111310.1186/s12864-025-11389-0Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goatsXiaogao Diao0Jiaxin Qin1Chenxi Dong2Liwen He3Wei Zhang4Sanya Institute of China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, SKLANF, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, SKLANF, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, SKLANF, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, SKLANF, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Melatonin improves the production performance of animal furs, particularly in promoting wool and cashmere growth. Although most studies of melatonin enhancing cashmere growth have focused primarily on gene and phenotype levels, its impact on metabolites has not received attention. To investigate the influence of melatonin on metabolites, genes, gene‒metabolite interactions, and associated signaling pathways in secondary hair follicles (SHFs), we performed multiomics analyses of skin and blood samples collected 30 days after sustained melatonin release. Results The results demonstrated that two melatonin interventions during SHF anagen in cashmere goats induce the early growth of SHFs, increase the active secondary follicle density (ASFD), and improve cashmere yield and quality. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 509 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including key genes such as KRTs and KRTAP s, and genes associated with the WNT signaling pathway (LEF1, WNT3/4, and FZD3/5), suggesting their critical roles in melatonin-mediated SHF development. Metabolomic analysis revealed 842 metabolites in the skin samples and 1,162 in the blood samples. Among these, 177 differentially regulated metabolites (DRMs) in the skin were significantly enriched in pathways such as alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), and several amino acid metabolic pathways. Similarly, 122 DRMs in the blood were enriched in pathways related to protein digestion and absorption, central carbon metabolism in cancer, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. Finally, the integrative analysis revealed partially coenriched metabolic pathways and relationships between DEGs and DRMs. Conclusions In summary, by integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics, this study provides novel insights into the role of melatonin in promoting SHF development. Furthermore, these findings establish a theoretical foundation for the broader application of melatonin-based technologies to promote cashmere growth.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11389-0MelatoninCashmere goatSecondary hair follicleTranscriptomicsMetabolomics |
| spellingShingle | Xiaogao Diao Jiaxin Qin Chenxi Dong Liwen He Wei Zhang Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats BMC Genomics Melatonin Cashmere goat Secondary hair follicle Transcriptomics Metabolomics |
| title | Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats |
| title_full | Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats |
| title_fullStr | Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats |
| title_short | Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats |
| title_sort | integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of melatonin in promoting secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats |
| topic | Melatonin Cashmere goat Secondary hair follicle Transcriptomics Metabolomics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11389-0 |
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