2. Academic Validation
  3. RXFP2-positive mesenchymal stem cells in the antlerogenic periosteum contribute to postnatal development of deer antlers

RXFP2-positive mesenchymal stem cells in the antlerogenic periosteum contribute to postnatal development of deer antlers

  • Commun Biol. 2025 Apr 22;8(1):645. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08085-w.
Hengxing Ba # 1,  Pengfei Hu # 2,  Hongming Yuan # 3,  Chao Ma 2,  Zhen Wang 2,  Yudong Shang 2,  Qianqian Guo 2,  Datao Wang 4,  Chunyi Li 5 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Deer Antler Biology, Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, 130600, China. bahengxing@cstu.edu.cn.
  • 2 Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Deer Antler Biology, Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, 130600, China.
  • 3 Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Institute of Zoonoses, Animal Genome Editing Technology Innovation Center, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
  • 4 Institute of Special Animal and Plant Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130112, China.
  • 5 Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Deer Antler Biology, Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, 130600, China. lichunyi1959@163.com.
  • 6 College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China. lichunyi1959@163.com.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 40263536 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08085-w
Abstract

The postnatal development of secondary sexual characteristics is a highly complex process governed by diverse molecular signals and serves as a key marker of sexual maturity. Deer antlers exemplify such traits, distinguished not only by their unique ability to regenerate annually but also by their initiation in postnatal life. It is well established that the antlerogenic periosteum (AP) is the only tissue responsible for postnatal antler formation. Here, we identify a population of RXFP2-positive mesenchymal stem cells within the AP of both male and female deer that are crucial for antler development, primarily through the activation of canonical Wnt signaling. This process also relies on M2 macrophages recruited via IL-34 secretion. Furthermore, these cells exhibit reduced expression of HOX genes, suggesting a high degree of developmental plasticity. Our findings offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the postnatal development of secondary sexual characteristics, using deer antlers serving as a model system.

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