Long non-coding RNA steroid receptor activator in polycystic ovary syndrome: possible association with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic and endocrine disorder which affects women of reproductive age with a prevalence of 8-18% and implies various severe consequences to female health, including alarming rates of infertility, which accounts for approximately 75% of anovulatory infertility. Long non-coding RNA steroid receptor activator (lncRNA-SRA) affects multiple biological processes. However, it is not known whether lncRNA-SRA is associated with PCOS and the possible accompanied metabolic syndrome (MetS). Material and Methods: The expression levels of lncRNA-SRA were measured by real-time quantitative-PCR in PCOS patients (n=30 women), and in control group (n=20 women), patients with metabolic syndrome were diagnosed, and the association between lncRNA-SRA and metabolic syndrome parameters in PCOS group and control were analyzed. Results: LncRNA-SRA expression mean level was significantly higher in the women with PCOS than that in the control group. There was a high significant positive correlation between lncRNA-SRA expression and hirsutism, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and insulin levels, also with significant positive correlation between lncRNA-SRA with HOMA/IR and testosterone in PCOS group. Conclusion: The authors found that the lncRNA-SRA expression is potentially increased with PCOS and it has positive correlation with hirsutism, obesity, testosterone, and insulin resistance in PCOS. LncRNA-SRA is significantly increased in MetS subgroup of PCOS, thereby suggesting that elevated lncRNA-SRA might be an important mediator not only associated to hormonal and clinical parameters but also associates metabolic syndrome in PCOS and may be a mediator in the pathogenesis of both syndromes.