Exploring differentially expressed genes between anagen and telogen secondary hair follicle stem cells from the Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) by RNA-Seq

The study investigated the differential gene expression between anagen and telogen secondary hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in Inner Mongolia Cashmere goats using RNA-Seq, generating over 58 million clean reads per group and identifying 2717 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among these, 1500 were upregulated and 1217 downregulated, with many DEGs linked to cellular processes and signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt, MAPK, Ras, and Rap1. Despite these differences, HFSC signature and cell cycle-associated genes showed no significant variation, suggesting a quiescent state in vitro. These findings provided insights into the molecular mechanisms of hair follicle cycling in cashmere goats.