Study on long non-coding RNA gene expression profile of follicular fluid in polycystic ovary syndrome patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate gene expression profile of follicular fluid in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) induced infertility patients and non-polycystic ovary syndrome induced infertility patients, in order to clarify possible mechanism about long non-coding(Lnc)RNA in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Methods From January 1 to May 30, 2017, a total of 6 follicular fluid samples of infertility patients who underwent assisted reproduction treatment in Northern Jiangsu People′s Hospital, Yangzhou University. They were divided into PCOS group (n=3) and non-PCOS group (n=3) according to whether they had PCOS or not. The age, infertility duration, body mass index (BMI), basic luteinizing hormone (bLH), basic follicle stimulating hormone (bFSH), estradiol, testosterone, fasting blood glucose (FBG), mammotrophic, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) were detected by independent-samples t test. The expression of LncRNA and messenger RNA(mRNA) [fragments per kilobase of exon per million fragments mapped (FPKM)], the length of LncRNA and mRNA were both detected by Mann-Whitney U test. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Board of Investigation in Human Being of Northern Jiangsu People′s Hospital, Yangzhou University. Results ① There were no significant difference between two groups in the aspects of age, infertility duration, and the levels of BMI, bLH, bFSH, estradiol, testosterone, FBG, mammotrophic, AMH (P>0.05). ② The median expression levels of LncRNA and mRNA were 0.455 FPKM (0.035-1.291 FPKM) and 0.848 FPKM (0.315-1.735 FPKM), respectively. There was significant difference between them (U=0.041, P<0.05). ③ The median length of LncRNA was 654 bp(499-1 069)bp, which was shorter than that of mRNA[1 517bp (709-2 818 bp)]. There was significant difference between them (U=0.038, P=0.05). ④ Compared with PCOS patients and non-PCOS patients, 1 866 differentially expressed genes were detected, including 1 253 up-regulation genes and 613 down-regulation genes. ⑤ Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed the scheduling precedence were purine metabolism, purine biosynthesis, cytidine triphosphate biosynthesis, and so on. ⑥ The scheduling precedence of Kyoto Eneyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were human T-lymphotropic virus infection, purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, chemokine, amino acid biosynthesis, asthma, RNA polymerase, Fanconi anemia, which were related with cell biosynthesis, protein synthesis, cell composition synthesis and so on. Conclusions The LncRNA and mRNA transcription level changed obviously in both 2 groups, it prompt that follicular fluid of PCOS patients has multiple biological functions and the changes in the signaling pathways which play an important role. Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome; Follicular fluid; Biobank; Gene expression; long non-coding RNA; Women