article · Non-coding RNA Research
This research investigated how specific non-coding RNAs regulate genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly known as PCOS. Using bioinformatic screening alongside blood tests from 73 women with PCOS and 31 healthy controls, the study analysed the relationships between regulatory RNAs and three target genes: androgen receptor, follistatin, and insulin receptor substrate-2. Patients with PCOS showed significantly elevated levels of the long non-coding RNA NEAT1, the microRNA miR-30a-5p, and all three target genes, accompanied by reduced levels of MALAT1 and miR-30d-5p. These alterations were particularly pronounced in obese patients. Statistical analysis demonstrated that combining specific non-coding RNAs with target genes could accurately distinguish affected individuals from healthy controls. The findings indicate that NEAT1 and MALAT1 act through microRNA interactions to influence key genes driving the condition, highlighting their potential utility for early diagnosis and future targeted treatment strategies.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a widespread disorder that affects metabolic and reproductive health, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms remain complex. Demonstrating how non-coding RNAs control key disease-related genes improves scientific comprehension of how the condition develops. Identifying these markers in peripheral blood also points towards accessible, minimally invasive tools that could improve early detection and guide the creation of targeted medical therapies.
The findings could support the development of blood-based diagnostic panels and risk-prediction assays for clinical laboratories and fertility clinics. They also highlight potential molecular targets for pharmaceutical developers pursuing targeted therapies for polycystic ovary syndrome. Because the findings are based on an observational study of 73 patients and 31 controls, this work represents early-stage research requiring extensive analytical and clinical validation before real-world diagnostic use.
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Accumulating evidence has shown an abnormal expression of several non-coding RNAs in ovarian tissues which might be closely linked with the pathogenesis of PCOS. The aim of this study was to identify competing endogenous (ce) RNA network: long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and their target genes: androgen receptor (AR), follistatin (FST) and insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), which are relevant to PCOS, to underline the molecular pathogenesis of PCOS and assist in early diagnosis and treatment. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to retrieve a ceRNA network: [lncRNA (NEAT1 and MALAT1) - miRNA (miR-30a-5p and miR-30d-5p) - mRNA (AR, FST and IRS-2)] linked to PCOS. Expression of the selected RNAs was examined by qPCR in peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from 73 PCOS patients (41 obese and 32 non-obese) and 31 healthy controls. PCOS patients showed significantly higher expression levels of NEAT1, miR-30a-5p, AR, FST and IRS-2, with significantly lower expression levels of MALAT1 and miR-30d-5p relative to controls especially in obese versus non-obese patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that most of the selected RNAs could serve as potential early diagnostic markers for PCOS with the highest efficiency obtained upon combining NEAT1 and miR-30d-5p or MALAT1 and miR-30a-5p with either of PCOS target genes. Moreover, all addressed RNAs had been proved as potential predictors of PCOS. The obtained data of ceRNA network raised the possibility that NEAT1 overexpression may increase the expression levels of AR, FST and IRS-2 by sponging miR-30d-5p, while low expression of MALAT1 may allow higher expression of the above genes via increasing miR-30a-5p, suggesting their involvement in PCOS pathogenesis and promising role for future diagnosis and targeted therapy.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.02.008
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