Non-Coding Nucleic Acid Sequences and Female Infertility

Female infertility is one of the least investigated forms of reproductive dysfunction. This review presents promising molecular factors associated with infertility and analyzes the mechanisms involved in its manifestation and progression. Globally, up to 17.5% of couples experience infertility, which can negatively affect individual health and society as a whole. Female-related factors account for approximately 37% of cases. The presence of numerous factors associated with chronic inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, including genetic and environmental influences, pose significant challenges for treatment of this patient population. Epigenetic mechanisms represent promising targets for regulation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA sequences that are approximately 18–25 nucleotides long. They regulate a wide range of various physiological processes within the cell, including cell growth, signal transduction, apoptosis, and pathological processes. Several miRNAs, including miR-324, miR-155, miR-335-5p, miR-9119, miR-23a, miR-27a, and miR-146b-5p, may be associated with female infertility. The role of long non-coding sequences influencing the activity of key targets involved in granulosa cell maturation is also highlighted. These factors have been shown to act as regulatory RNAs and mediate the decidualization of stromal cells. Particular attention is given to circulating miRNAs such as let-7b, miR-29a, miR-30a, miR-140, and miR-320a.