title: Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty women with PCOS and 35 healthy women without PCOS were recruited. A prospective case-control study was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, China, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Caiqin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, China, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fengxian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, China, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, China, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, China, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shiming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012313:RNA / Q000502:physiology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D012313:RNA