Zhang Zhi-Chun, Guo Xiao-Long, Li Xi
Biology Science Institutes, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
Genes Dis. 2017 Dec 18;5(1):16-23. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2017.12.002. eCollection 2018 Mar.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) with a covalently closed loop structure which was different with linear RNAs, recently re-merged as novel regulator and exerted function in multiple biological processes. Through deep RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology coupled with bioinformatic analyses, a number of circRNAs has been identified. Moreover, circRNAs exhibit tissue- and development-specific expression indicating their potential biological significance. Actually, function of circRNAs as miRNA sponge has been well demonstrated in some diseases, besides, circRNAs also could function as RNA binding protein sponge and regulate alternative splicing and gene transcription. Notably, Emerging evidences showed that circRNAs played a pivotal role on the development of diseases including atherosclerotic vascular disease, neurological disorders and liver diseases, and served as diagnostic or predictive biomarkers of some diseases. This review mainly discusses the current advance of circRNAs as regulator involved in many diseases, and highlights circRNAs which have been well elucidated biological and pathogenic mechanism.
环状RNA（circRNAs）具有与线性RNA不同的共价闭合环状结构，最近作为新型调节因子重新出现，并在多个生物学过程中发挥作用。通过深度RNA测序（RNA-seq）技术结合生物信息学分析，已鉴定出许多circRNAs。此外，circRNAs表现出组织和发育特异性表达，表明它们具有潜在的生物学意义。实际上，circRNAs作为miRNA海绵的功能在一些疾病中已得到充分证明，此外，circRNAs还可作为RNA结合蛋白海绵发挥作用，并调节可变剪接和基因转录。值得注意的是，新出现的证据表明，circRNAs在包括动脉粥样硬化性血管疾病、神经疾病和肝脏疾病在内的疾病发展中起关键作用，并作为某些疾病的诊断或预测生物标志物。本综述主要讨论了circRNAs作为参与多种疾病的调节因子的当前进展，并重点介绍了其生物学和致病机制已得到充分阐明的circRNAs。
