A narrative review of circular RNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of non-coding RNA, are produced by back-splicing and were initially considered to be by-products of splicing. In recent years, computational technology and experimental evidence have revealed the tremendous amounts and potential physiological or pathological functions of this novel non-coding RNA species. At present, the roles of circRNAs in neurological diseases, immune diseases, and cancers have come to light. In addition, increasing studies have identified the expression profiles of circRNA in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and revealed the involvement of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of CVDs which are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and result in substantial health and financial burden. Despite current improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, survival and prognosis of CVDs patients remain relatively poor. Due to the involvements of circRNAs in CVDs and their outstanding characteristics of high stability, conservation, and tissue-or developmental-specificity, circRNA-based biomarkers or gene therapy may be effective approaches to reduce CVDs burden. In the review, we systematically summarized the formation mechanisms, functional models, and research approaches of circRNAs, and several circRNAs involved in CVDs. Finally, we proposed that developing circRNAs as biomarkers or circRNA-based therapeutic strategies based on biological or physical materials may be promising to diagnose or treat CVDs in the future.

circRNA Expression Pattern and circRNA–miRNA–mRNA Network in HCs, HSCs, and KCs of Murine Liver After Echinococcus multilocularis Infection

“…Considering the highly conserved and stable circRNAs, it has become a target for the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases ( 19 – 21 ). A previous study identified that several dysregulated circRNAs were in the murine liver at the early stage of E. multilocularis infection, which indicated important roles that DE-circRNAs have played ( 22 ).…”

CircRNAs in Malignant Tumor Radiation: The New Frontier as Radiotherapy Biomarkers

“…confirmed that the great majority of circRNAs were long-lived compared with linear mRNAs ( 34 ), as the half-life of circRNAs exceed 48 h while that of linear is less than 20 h ( 26 ); (2) abundance: Next-generation RNA sequencing corrected the early false assumption that circRNAs were errors with non-function and low expression during transcription. Numerous studies have been devoted to considering the expression and function of circRNAs ( 26 , 30 , 35 , 36 ). Generally, the expression level of most circRNAs is only 5-10% of its linear transcript ( 37 ).…”

Circular RNAs in the Origin of Developmental Lung Disease: Promising Diagnostic and Therapeutic Biomarkers

“…In addition to adult tissues, circular RNA has been discovered in developing tissues [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. In recent years, circRNAs have emerged as important regulatory molecules for cardiovascular and pulmonary development, as well as diseases of aberrant development [ 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Recent research has proven that genetic factors play an integral role in the progression of developmental lung diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) [ 7 , 20 ] and neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).…”