Yu Chen Xi, Sun Shui
Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Yonsei Med J. 2018 May;59(3):349-355. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2018.59.3.349.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are currently classed as non-coding RNAs that, unlike the better known canonical linear RNAs, form a covalently closed continuous loop without 5' or 3' polarities. With the development of high throughput sequencing technology, a large number of circRNAs have been discovered in many species. More importantly, growing evidence suggests that circRNAs are abundant, evolutionally conserved, and relatively stable in cells and tissues. Strikingly, recent studies have discovered that circRNAs can serve as microRNA sponges, interact with RNA-binding protein, and regulate gene transcription, as well as protein translation. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic degenerative joint disease. CircRNAs are differentially expressed in OA cartilage. Moreover, some circRNAs are involved in multiple pathological processes during OA, mainly extracellular matrix degradation, inflammation, and apoptosis. In this review, we briefly delineate the biogenesis, characteristics, and biofunctions of circRNAs, and then, focus on the role of circRNAs in the occurrence and progression OA.
环状RNA（circRNAs）目前被归类为非编码RNA，与更为人熟知的经典线性RNA不同，它们形成一个没有5'或3'极性的共价闭合连续环。随着高通量测序技术的发展，在许多物种中发现了大量的circRNAs。更重要的是，越来越多的证据表明，circRNAs在细胞和组织中丰富、进化保守且相对稳定。引人注目的是，最近的研究发现，circRNAs可以作为微小RNA海绵，与RNA结合蛋白相互作用，并调节基因转录以及蛋白质翻译。骨关节炎（OA）是最常见的慢性退行性关节疾病。circRNAs在OA软骨中差异表达。此外，一些circRNAs参与OA的多个病理过程，主要是细胞外基质降解、炎症和细胞凋亡。在本综述中，我们简要描述了circRNAs的生物发生、特征和生物功能，然后重点关注circRNAs在OA发生和发展中的作用。
