Genetic variations in UCA1, a lncRNA functioning as a miRNA sponge, determine endometriosis development and the potential associated infertility via regulating lipogenesis

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 28;17(7):e0271616. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271616. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Endometriosis is a hormone-associated disease which has been considered as the precursor for certain types of ovarian cancer. In recent years, emerging evidence demonstrated potent roles of lncRNA in regulating cancer development. Since endometriosis shares several features with cancer, we investigated the possible involvement of cancer-related lncRNAs in endometriosis, including UCA1, GAS5 and PTENP1. By using massARRAY system, we investigated certain genetic variations in cancer-related lncRNAs that can change the thermo-stability, leading to up-regulation or down-regulation of those lncRNAs. Our data indicated three risk genetic haplotypes in UCA1 which can stabilize the RNA structure and increase the susceptibility of endometriosis. Of note, such alterations were found to be associated with long-term pain and infertility in patients. It has been known that UCA1 can function as a ceRNA to sponge and inhibit miRNAs, resulting in loss-of-control on downstream target genes. Gene network analyses revealed fatty acid metabolism and mitochondria beta-oxidation as the major pathways associated with altered UCA1 expression in endometriosis patients. Our study thus provides evidence to highlight functional/epigenetic roles of UCA1 in endometriosis development via regulating fatty acid metabolism in women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Endometriosis* / genetics
  • Fatty Acids
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Infertility*
  • Lipogenesis / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • UCA1 RNA, human

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (110-2320-B-039-033 and 111-2320-B-039-030-MY3), Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan (MHW 11017), China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan (DMR111-120), and National Sun Yat-sen University- Kaohsiung Medical University (110-P019). This study was also partially supported by grants from National Health and Family Planning Commission of Henan Province, China (2018020215 and LHGJ20200448). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.