Xi'an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education. Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, PR China.
Department of Endocrinology, Xi' an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China.
Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Dec;168:115744. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115744. Epub 2023 Oct 18.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel type of single-stranded noncoding RNAs with a covalently closed loop structure, are generated in a circular conformation via non-canonical splicing or back-splicing events. Functionally, circRNAs have been elucidated to soak up microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA binding proteins (RBPs), serve as protein scaffolds, maintain mRNA stability, and regulate gene transcription and translation. Notably, circRNAs are strongly implicated in the regulation of β-cell functions, insulin resistance, adipocyte functions, inflammation as well as oxidative stress via acting as miRNA sponges and RBP sponges. Basic and clinical studies have demonstrated that aberrant alterations of circRNAs expressions are strongly associated with the initiation and progression of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. Here in this review, we present a summary of the biogenesis, transportation, degradation and functions of circRNAs, and highlight the recent findings on circRNAs and their action mechanisms in DM and its complications. Overall, this review should contribute greatly to our understanding of circRNAs in DM pathogenesis, offering insights into the further perspectives of circRNAs for DM diagnosis and therapy.
环状 RNA（circRNAs）是一种新型的单链非编码 RNA，具有共价闭环结构，通过非规范剪接或反向剪接事件以环状构象产生。功能上，circRNAs 已被阐明可以吸收 microRNA（miRNA）和 RNA 结合蛋白（RBP），充当蛋白质支架，维持 mRNA 稳定性，并调节基因转录和翻译。值得注意的是，circRNAs 通过充当 miRNA 海绵和 RBP 海绵，强烈参与β细胞功能、胰岛素抵抗、脂肪细胞功能、炎症以及氧化应激的调节。基础和临床研究表明，circRNAs 表达的异常改变与糖尿病（DM）及其并发症的发生和发展密切相关。在这篇综述中，我们总结了 circRNAs 的生物发生、运输、降解和功能，并强调了最近关于 circRNAs 及其在 DM 及其并发症中的作用机制的发现。总的来说，这篇综述应该极大地帮助我们理解 DM 发病机制中的 circRNAs，为 DM 的诊断和治疗提供进一步的见解。
