Tu Mixue, Wu Yiqing, Mu Liangshan, Zhang Dan
Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China.
Women's Reproductive Health Research Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Ann Transl Med. 2021 Jan;9(2):173. doi: 10.21037/atm-20-5044.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of transcripts (>200 nucleotides) lacking protein-coding capacity. Based on the complex three-dimensional structure, lncRNAs are involved in many biological processes and can regulate the expression of target genes at chromatin modification, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. LncRNAs have been studied in multiple diseases but little is known about their role(s) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrinological disorder in reproductive-aged women around the world. In this review, we characterized and explored the potential mechanisms of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of PCOS. We found that lncRNAs play a molecular role in PCOS mainly by functioning as the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and are significantly correlated with some clinical phenotypes. We summarized in detail regarding aberrant lncRNAs in different specimens of women with PCOS [i.e., granulosa cells (GCs), cumulus cells (CCs), follicular fluid (FF), peripheral blood] and various PCOS rodent models [i.e., dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and letrozole induced models]. In clinical practice, detection of lncRNAs in serum might enable early diagnosis. Furthermore, new lncRNA-based classifications might be emerging as potent predictors of a particular phenotype in PCOS. Overall, we proposed new insights for the application of precision medicine approaches to the management of PCOS.
长链非编码RNA（lncRNAs）是一类缺乏蛋白质编码能力的转录本（>200个核苷酸）。基于复杂的三维结构，lncRNAs参与许多生物学过程，并可在染色质修饰、转录和转录后水平调节靶基因的表达。lncRNAs已在多种疾病中得到研究，但关于它们在多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）中的作用却知之甚少，PCOS是全球育龄女性中最常见的内分泌疾病。在本综述中，我们对lncRNAs在PCOS发病机制中的潜在机制进行了表征和探索。我们发现lncRNAs在PCOS中主要通过作为竞争性内源RNA（ceRNA）发挥分子作用，并且与一些临床表型显著相关。我们详细总结了PCOS女性不同标本[即颗粒细胞（GCs）、卵丘细胞（CCs）、卵泡液（FF）、外周血]和各种PCOS啮齿动物模型[即脱氢表雄酮（DHEA）和来曲唑诱导模型]中异常的lncRNAs。在临床实践中，检测血清中的lncRNAs可能有助于早期诊断。此外，基于lncRNA的新分类可能会成为PCOS中特定表型的有力预测指标。总体而言，我们为精准医学方法在PCOS管理中的应用提出了新的见解。
