MiRNA-24 downregulates KLF6 affecting STAT3 protein expression and phosphorylation regulating melanogenesis in cashmere goat coat

This study demonstrates that miRNA-24 plays a crucial role in regulating melanogenesis in the coat of Cashmere goats by downregulating KLF6, which in turn affects the expression and phosphorylation of the STAT3 protein. The research utilized various methods, including RT-qPCR, Western Blot, and Immunofluorescence, to establish the inverse correlation between miRNA-24 and KLF6 expression in different colored skins of Cashmere goats. The study also showed that silencing KLF6 led to the downregulation of melanogenesis-related genes such as WNT1, WNT2, PRKACA, MAPK1, TYR, and STAT3. Furthermore, BALB/c mice injected with a miRNA-24 inhibitor exhibited increased melanin content and decreased KLF6 expression, supporting the conclusion that miRNA-24 influences melanogenesis through the modulation of KLF6 and STAT3 pathways.