Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea.
Creative Research Initiatives Center for Molecular Biology of Translation, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea; Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
Trends Genet. 2021 Sep;37(9):819-829. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.04.014. Epub 2021 May 17.
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a closed, single-stranded transcript widely detected in eukaryotes. Recent studies indicate that the levels of circRNAs change with age in various tissues in multiple species, ranging from nematodes to mammals. Here we discuss the functional roles of circRNAs in animal aging and longevity. We review studies regarding the differential expression of circRNAs that contributes to cellular senescence and the pathogenesis of aging-associated diseases. We explore the features of aging-associated circRNAs by discussing their potential as biomarkers of aging, tissue specificity, physiological roles, action mechanisms, and evolutionarily conserved characteristics. Our review provides insights into current progress in circRNA research and their significant functions in the aging process.
环状 RNA（circRNA）是一种在真核生物中广泛存在的闭合、单链转录本。最近的研究表明，circRNA 的水平会随多种物种的不同组织中的年龄变化而变化，范围从线虫到哺乳动物。在这里，我们讨论了 circRNA 在动物衰老和长寿中的功能作用。我们回顾了关于 circRNA 差异表达的研究，这些研究有助于细胞衰老和与衰老相关疾病的发病机制。我们通过讨论衰老相关 circRNA 的潜在作为衰老生物标志物、组织特异性、生理作用、作用机制和进化保守特征，探讨了它们的特征。我们的综述提供了环状 RNA 研究的最新进展及其在衰老过程中的重要功能的深入了解。
