Comprehensive Analysis of Differences in Cashmere Production Performance in Liaoning Cashmere Goats by Using Metabolomics and Transcriptomics

This study integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics to analyse the molecular differences in the skin tissues of perennial long wool type (PT-LCG) and seasonal long wool type (ST-LCG) Liaoning cashmere goats to reveal the regulatory mechanisms underlying their differences in cashmere production. Histological observations showed no significant differences in the secondary hair follicle structure between the two types, but PT-LCG exhibited higher hair follicle activity during the catagen phase. Metabolomics analysis identified 92 differentially expressed metabolites (67 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated), primarily enriched in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and energy metabolism pathways. The up-regulation of 3-hydroxypropionic acid and long-chain fatty acids may promote hair follicle growth through energy supply and membrane synthesis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 145 differentially expressed genes (28 up-regulated and 117 down-regulated), significantly enriched in lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix (ECM), and inflammation-related pathways such as the PPAR and IL-17 signalling pathway. Multi-omics association analysis uncovered a synergistic regulatory network of ‘metabolite-receptor-gene’, indicating that lipid metabolism, energy supply and ECM remodelling are key factors in maintaining hair follicle activity in PT-LCG. This study provides potential targets for molecular breeding of cashmere goats and offers new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of mammalian hair follicle cycles.