Decorin-mediated dermal papilla cell-derived exosomes regulate hair follicle growth and development through miR-129-2-3p/SMAD3/TGF-β axis

Jiali Li; Bohao Zhao; Yongqi Yu; Zhiyuan Bao; Feiyang Zheng; Jiawei Cai; Yang Chen; Xinsheng Wu

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139292

Decorin-mediated dermal papilla cell-derived exosomes regulate hair follicle growth and development through miR-129-2-3p/SMAD3/TGF-β axis

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jan 3:295:139292. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139292. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jiali Li¹, Bohao Zhao², Yongqi Yu², Zhiyuan Bao², Feiyang Zheng³, Jiawei Cai², Yang Chen⁴, Xinsheng Wu⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
² College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
⁴ College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China. Electronic address: yangc@yzu.edu.cn.
⁵ College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China. Electronic address: xswu@yzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 39755296
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139292

Abstract

Decorin (DCN) is a member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family within the extracellular matrix, playing a role in the growth and development of hair follicle (HF). Exosomes serve as significant mediators of intercellular communication and are involved in the cyclic regeneration of HF. Exosomes derived from dermal papilla cells (DPC-Exos) are essential for the cycling and regrowth of HF. The present study demonstrated that DCN treatment significantly enhances the proliferation of DPCs, thereby promoting hair follicle growth. miRNA sequencing revealed 442 differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs. The regulatory mechanism of exosomal miR-129-2-3p, an up-regulated differential miRNA, was further investigated. The study identified its role in transporting DPCs to HFSCs through DPC-Exos. miR-129-2-3p has been shown to suppress the expression of genes associated with HF growth and development, lower the expression of genes and proteins downstream of the TGF-β signaling pathway, promote HFSC proliferation, and decrease HFSC apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-129-2-3p displayed an antagonistic effect on activating the TGF-β/SMAD3 signaling pathway induced by SRI-011381. The findings indicate that DCN-mediated DPC-Exos influence HF growth and development through the miR-129-2-3p/SMAD3/TGF-β regulatory axis. These results may facilitate novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of human hair disorders, in addition to enhancing industrial wool production.

Keywords: Decorin; Dermal papilla cells; Hair loss.