MicroRNA-181a Targets GNAI2 and Affects the Proliferation and Induction Ability of Dermal Papilla Cells: Potential Involvement of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

This study investigates the role of microRNA-181a (miR-181a) in the growth and development of ovine hair follicles (HFs) by focusing on dermal papilla cells (DPCs). The research demonstrates that miR-181a inhibits the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs, as shown through various assays including qRT-PCR and flow cytometry. It identifies G protein subunit alpha i2 (GNAI2) as a target gene of miR-181a, which, when activated, promotes DPC proliferation and induction ability and activates the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. The findings suggest that miR-181a negatively regulates ovine HF growth by targeting GNAI2 and affecting the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway.