Abstract
BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a chronic disease of the genital organs that mainly affects women of reproductive age. The analysis of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in endometriosis is a novel field of science. Recently, attention has been drawn to SNHG4, which is incorrectly expressed in various human diseases, including endometriosis. AIM: The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the expression of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 4 (SNHG4) and to investigate its significance in endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: LncRNA SNHG4 expression was investigated in paraffin blocks in endometriosis patients (n = 100) and in endometriosis-free controls (n = 100) using a real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: This study revealed a higher expression of SNHG4 in endometriosis patients than in controls. A statistically significant relationship between expression level and SNHG4 was found in relation to The Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification of endometriosis, 1996, in the group of patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSION: This pilot study has revealed that gene expression in SNHG4 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.