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

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.