HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep

Abstract The polycerate trait in sheep is a complex phenotype regulated by polygenes. However, the mechanism behind multi-horned traits development and growth remains unclear. In this study, neural crest cells (NCCs) were isolated from mouse embryos, and the HOXD1 (Homeobox D1) gene was overexpresse...

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Main Authors: Cheng Zhang, Shuhong Zhang, Huifeng Xu, Guan Wang, Huan Zhang, Tenggang Di, Liming Tian, Menghan Chang, Fengyi Gao, Ming Li, Guangli Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97865-9
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author Cheng Zhang
Shuhong Zhang
Huifeng Xu
Guan Wang
Huan Zhang
Tenggang Di
Liming Tian
Menghan Chang
Fengyi Gao
Ming Li
Guangli Yang
author_facet Cheng Zhang
Shuhong Zhang
Huifeng Xu
Guan Wang
Huan Zhang
Tenggang Di
Liming Tian
Menghan Chang
Fengyi Gao
Ming Li
Guangli Yang
author_sort Cheng Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The polycerate trait in sheep is a complex phenotype regulated by polygenes. However, the mechanism behind multi-horned traits development and growth remains unclear. In this study, neural crest cells (NCCs) were isolated from mouse embryos, and the HOXD1 (Homeobox D1) gene was overexpressed in these cells to identify its function. Transcriptome analysis was performed to explore the key signaling pathway involved in forming the multi-horned traits in sheep. The results showed that the HOXD1 induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse neural crest primary cells, affecting their migration but without significantly influencing proliferation. Furthermore, signaling pathway analysis suggested that HOXD1 may inhibit NCC proliferation by modulating Wnt rather than TGF-β signaling. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the HOXD1 gene affected the extracellular matrix of CXC family regulatory cells and promoted NCC differentiation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further investigation into the regulation of multi-horned traits growth and development in sheep.
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issn 2045-2322
language English
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publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-fea006e17a21433ebdcd0309bd8e08782025-08-20T02:17:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-97865-9HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheepCheng Zhang0Shuhong Zhang1Huifeng Xu2Guan Wang3Huan Zhang4Tenggang Di5Liming Tian6Menghan Chang7Fengyi Gao8Ming Li9Guangli Yang10College of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Biology and Food, Shangqiu Normal UniversityAbstract The polycerate trait in sheep is a complex phenotype regulated by polygenes. However, the mechanism behind multi-horned traits development and growth remains unclear. In this study, neural crest cells (NCCs) were isolated from mouse embryos, and the HOXD1 (Homeobox D1) gene was overexpressed in these cells to identify its function. Transcriptome analysis was performed to explore the key signaling pathway involved in forming the multi-horned traits in sheep. The results showed that the HOXD1 induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse neural crest primary cells, affecting their migration but without significantly influencing proliferation. Furthermore, signaling pathway analysis suggested that HOXD1 may inhibit NCC proliferation by modulating Wnt rather than TGF-β signaling. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the HOXD1 gene affected the extracellular matrix of CXC family regulatory cells and promoted NCC differentiation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further investigation into the regulation of multi-horned traits growth and development in sheep.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97865-9SheepPolycerate traitNeural crest cellsHOXD1 geneChemokine CXC
spellingShingle Cheng Zhang
Shuhong Zhang
Huifeng Xu
Guan Wang
Huan Zhang
Tenggang Di
Liming Tian
Menghan Chang
Fengyi Gao
Ming Li
Guangli Yang
HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep
Scientific Reports
Sheep
Polycerate trait
Neural crest cells
HOXD1 gene
Chemokine CXC
title HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep
title_full HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep
title_fullStr HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep
title_full_unstemmed HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep
title_short HOXD1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep
title_sort hoxd1 regulates neural crest cells differentiation and polycerate development in sheep
topic Sheep
Polycerate trait
Neural crest cells
HOXD1 gene
Chemokine CXC
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97865-9
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