Peripheral blood leukocyte expression level of lncRNA steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA) and its association with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case control study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been recognized as a common reproductive and endocrine disorder. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA) affects multiple biological processes. However, it is not known whether lncRNA SRA is associated with PCOS. In the study, we measured the expression level of lncRNA SRA in PCOS patients, and analyzed the association between lncRNA SRA and multiple key endocrine parameters of PCOS. LncRNA SRA expression was significantly higher in the women with PCOS than that in the controls. There was a significant positive correlation between lncRNA SRA expression and BMI in PCOS group. Furthermore, obesity positively associates with the high expression of lncRNA SRA in PCOS women but without the association in control women. In conclusion, we found that the lncRNA SRA expression is potentially associated with PCOS and it has positive correlation with obesity in PCOS, thereby suggesting that elevated lncRNA SRA might be an important mediator in adiposity-related processes in PCOS for susceptible individuals.