Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

CONTEXT: Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) participates in the regulation of telomere length, and leucocyte telomere length (LTL) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but little is known about the role of TERRA in PCOS.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of TERRA and peripheral blood LTL in PCOS.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Forty women with PCOS and 35 healthy women without PCOS were recruited. A prospective case-control study was performed.

MEASUREMENTS: RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect TERRA expression in peripheral blood leucocyte. Quantitative PCR was used to measure TERRA expression and the mean LTL in the PCOS and control groups. We analysed the association between related clinical parameters and the age-adjusted ratio of the telomere repeat length (T/S ratio) or TERRA.

RESULTS: Telomeric repeat-containing RNA was expressed in human peripheral blood leucocytes, and the signal was abolished after culture with RNase A. The age-adjusted LTLs were significantly longer in the PCOS group than in the control group (P < 0·01). The age-adjusted TERRA level was significantly lower in the PCOS group than in the control group (P < 0·01). Testosterone (TTE) was related positively to LTL and negatively to TERRA in the PCOS group (r = 0·532, P = 0·002; r = -0·477, P = 0·017).

CONCLUSION: We found TERRA expression in human peripheral blood leucocytes, and LTLs were positively associated with PCOS. TERRA and testosterone play an important role in the LTL regulation in PCOS.