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Introduction
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovarian morphology; this disorder occurs in 5–20% of women of reproductive age worldwide (1). PCOS is one of the leading causes of anovulatory infertility (2) and is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (3). However, at present, the pathogenesis of PCOS remains unclear. It is known that abnormal gonadotropin levels may cause anovulation and hyperandrogenism (4). Alterations in ovarian folliculogenesis, which are common in PCOS, are induced by the imbalance between testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, caused by excessive production of luteinizing hormone (5). In spite of efforts made regarding the prevention and treatment of PCOS, long-term outcomes remain generally unsatisfactory. Therefore, novel targets are required to improve the clinical treatment outcomes of PCOS.
PCOS is caused by elevated androgens and is characterized by altered cell proliferation, differentiation, steroidogenesis, follicle maturation and apoptosis (6). Numerous intra- and extra-ovarian factors, including tumor necrosis factor α, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factors and interleukins have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS (6). Alongside mRNAs that encode protein products, the human genome transcribes a larger set of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) (7). Long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) are a subgroup of ncRNAs composed of >200 nucleotides, which serve critical roles in the pathogenesis of various human diseases (8). It has been reported that the development of PCOS is accompanied by alterations in the expression levels of certain lncRNAs (9), thus indicating the involvement of lncRNAs in this disease. LncRNA BANCR is a recently identified lncRNA that has pivotal roles in various malignancies, including endometrial cancer (10) and melanoma (11), mainly by promoting the proliferation of cancer cells through interactions with numerous pathways. Our preliminary experiments detected altered expression of BANCR in PCOS tissues compared with in healthy controls (data not shown). The present study aimed to examine the potential involvement of lncRNA BANCR in PCOS. It was demonstrated that lncRNA BANCR may participate in PCOS by promoting cell apoptosis through the upregulation of B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2-associated X protein (Bax).
Patients and methods
Subjects and granulosa cells (GCs)
The present study recruited 44 patients with PCOS; these patients were diagnosed and treated for the first time at The Second...