The impact of long non-coding RNA H19 on metabolic features and reproductive phenotypes of Egyptian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known as the most common endocrine/metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. We designed this study to evaluate lncRNA H19 relative expression in patients with PCOS and to evaluate its impact on metabolic features and reproductive phenotypes of Egyptian women with polycystic ovaries. Material and methods The case–control study enrolled 50 control groups and 50 patients, with PCOS. The selection of patients with PCOS depended on the diagnosis according to the Rotterdam Consensus (2004). The lncRNA H19 were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results The lncRNA H19 level was significantly higher in the PCOS group (1.71 ± 0.48) compared to controls (0.924 ± 0.081). Furthermore, lncRNA H19 levels were significantly positively correlated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters including BMI, waist/hip ratio, TC, TG, LDL, FPG, FSI, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR. Regarding reproductive phenotypes features, hirsutism score, and AFC levels were significantly positively correlated with lncRNA H19 levels. The linear regression test revealed that BMI and AFC were the only parameters independently associated with lncRNA H19 among other studied parameters. Interestingly, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis detected that the area under the curve (AUC) for the lncRNA H19 was 0.925 (95% CI = 0.856–0.955) with sensitivity = 96.4%, specificity = 96%, and the cutoff values (1.08). Thus, the predictive power of lncRNA H19 of PCOS was highly sensitive and specific. Conclusion PCOS patients had significantly higher lncRNA H19 levels than controls. lncRNA H19 levels were significantly positively correlated with metabolic risk factors as well as clinical and laboratory features of PCOS.