Li Yongjin, Zhou Suzhe, Hu Xinli, Lu Shibao
Department of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China.
Noncoding RNA Res. 2023 Sep 18;8(4):633-640. doi: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.09.004. eCollection 2023 Dec.
Lower back pain (LBP) is a worldwide health problem associated with significant economic and social burden. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of LBP. Several studies show that the death of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), abnormal metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and inflammatory response are the key mechanisms behind the pathogenesis of IVDD. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression and play a significant role in regulating NPCs death, ECM homeostasis, and inflammatory response by acting as microRNAs (miRNAs) sponges in IVDD. However, the regulatory role of circRNAs in mediating IVDD remains unknown. This review comprehensively describes the normal anatomic structure and function of IVD, the pathogenesis of IVDD, the characteristics, synthesis, mechanisms, and function of circRNAs. Moreover, we highlighted the 23 circRNAs that mediate ECM metabolism, 16 circRNAs that mediate NPCs apoptosis, circ_0004354 and circ_0040039 that mediate NPCs pyroptosis, and 5 circRNAs that mediate inflammatory response in IVDD. In addition, this review presents suggestions for future studies, such as the need for further investigation on ferroptosis-related circRNAs in IVDD. This review could provide novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of IVDD.
下背痛（LBP）是一个全球性的健康问题，伴随着巨大的经济和社会负担。椎间盘退变（IVDD）是LBP的主要原因。多项研究表明，髓核细胞（NPCs）死亡、细胞外基质（ECM）代谢异常以及炎症反应是IVDD发病机制的关键环节。环状RNA（circRNAs）是基因表达的关键调节因子，在IVDD中通过充当微小RNA（miRNAs）海绵，在调节NPCs死亡、ECM稳态和炎症反应方面发挥重要作用。然而，circRNAs在介导IVDD中的调节作用仍不清楚。本综述全面描述了椎间盘的正常解剖结构和功能、IVDD的发病机制、circRNAs的特征、合成、机制和功能。此外，我们重点介绍了23种介导ECM代谢的circRNAs、16种介导NPCs凋亡的circRNAs、介导NPCs焦亡的circ_0004354和circ_0040039，以及5种介导IVDD炎症反应的circRNAs。此外，本综述还提出了未来研究的建议，例如需要进一步研究IVDD中与铁死亡相关的circRNAs。本综述可为IVDD的发病机制和治疗提供新的见解。
