LncRNA BANCR participates in polycystic ovary syndrome by promoting cell apoptosis

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) BANCR is a well-studied lncRNA that serves pivotal roles in various malignancies; however, to the best of our knowledge, its involvement in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains unknown. In the present study, the expression levels of lncRNA BANCR were detected in granulosa cells (GCs) from patients with PCOS and non-PCOS patients undergoing in vitro fertilization by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, GCs and the KGN human granulosa-like tumor cell line were treated with insulin, and BANCR expression was detected. KGN cells were also transfected with a BANCR expression vector, after which, cell proliferation, apoptosis and the expression levels of pro-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax) and p53 were detected by Cell Counting kit-8 assay, MTT assay and western blotting, respectively. The results revealed that the expression levels of lncRNA BANCR in GCs were significantly higher in patients with PCOS compared with in non-PCOS patients. In addition, insulin treatment significantly upregulated the expression of BANCR in GCs and KGN cells. Transfection with the BANCR expression vector significantly inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of KGN cells, and significantly promoted the expression levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and p53. Therefore, it may be concluded that lncRNA BANCR participates in PCOS by promoting cell apoptosis through the upregulation of Bax and p53.