A Single-Cell Transcriptomic Atlas Elucidates the Hair Cycle and Apoptosis Mechanisms in Goat Hair Follicles

November 2025 in “ Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ”

Chongyan Zhang, Feng Yang, Zhihong Liu

single-cell transcriptome sequencing hair cycle apoptosis hair follicles Wnt signaling pathway KRT19 API5 MSX2 LEF1 Matrix cells

TLDR The study maps goat hair follicle cells, revealing key genes and pathways involved in hair growth and cell death.

This study utilized single-cell transcriptome sequencing on 8,214 goat hair follicle cells across different hair cycle stages to investigate the molecular mechanisms of hair follicle apoptosis. Researchers identified nine cell types and highlighted the enrichment of the Wnt signaling pathway and apoptosis-related genes in Matrix cells (MCs). Key dynamic genes like KRT19 and API5, along with regulatory factors such as MSX2 and LEF1, were found to influence the fate of MCs. The study provides a detailed cell map of goat hair follicle apoptosis, offering new insights and potential diagnostic biomarkers for programmed cell death.

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