Circular RNA are one kind of non-coding RNA, charactered by covalently closed rings. They can influence biological functions such as cell transduction and protein synthesis. They are associated with pathogenesis of many diseases and become a novel family of biomarkers. Now we try to introduce the origin, structure, function of circular RNA and the involved research methodology. Furthermore, we primarily discuss their application in the tuberculosis research.
ObjectiveTo summarize the role of circular RNA (circRNAs) in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) and the emphasis of future research.MethodRelevant literatures in recent years about the biological function of circRNA and its role in PTC were reviewed.ResultscircRNAs had abnormal expression in PTC tissues. Besides, by working as miRNA sponges or interacting with RNA-binding proteins, circRNAs regulated the expression of proteins that were associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis, which could affect the biological characteristics of tumor cells.ConclusioncircRNAs are expected to be the biomarkers for early diagnosis of PTC or potential targets for PTC therapy and provid therapeutic bases to prevent PTC.
ObjectiveTo understand the research status and future directions of circular RNA (circRNA) in pancreatic cancer, and to provide references for its further research.MethodThe recent literatures on studies of the role of circRNA in the pancreatic cancer were reviewed.ResultsThe retsults of high-throughput sequencing had shown that large amounts of circRNA expressed abnormally in the pancreatic cancer tissues and pancreatic cancer cell lines, and they participated in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer, drug resistance, autophagy, and immune escape by regulating downstream target molecules such as microRNA or RNA-binding protein.ConclusionCertain circRNAs with important function are expected to become biomarkers for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and molecular targets for treatment, so as to achieve goals of early diagnosis and targeted therapy of pancreatic cancer.
The mechanisms behind diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be ascribed primarily to retinal microvascular abnormalities, excessive inflammatory response and neurodegeneration. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of endogenous non-coding RNA with a special circular structure, which is mainly composed of precursor RNA after shearing and processing. It is widely present in the retina and participates in the occurrence and development of various fundus diseases. CircRNAs express in an abnormal way in retina, serving as “the sponge” for miRNA so as to play roles in dysfunction of retinal vascular, inflammatory response and neurodegeneration in the development of DR. Further studies for circRNAs in DR will illustrate pathophysiology of DR more deeply, shedding light on circRNAs becoming novel biomarkers and molecular targets for diagnosis and treatment, thus achieving the goal of early diagnosis and precise therapy of DR.
ObjectiveTo summarize the recent research progress of circRNA in gastric cancer, and to explore the clinical value of circRNA as new therapeutic target and diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.MethodThe studies on circRNA and related literatures in gastric cancer were reviewed.ResultsAs a new member of the non-coding RNA family, circRNA played a key role in regulating the proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and therapeutic resistance of gastric cancer cells. At the same time, based on the stability and tissue-specific characteristics, circRNA possessed great potential as biomarker for early diagnosis or prognosis evaluation of gastric cancer.ConclusionscircRNA plays an important role in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer. As a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and a new therapeutic target for gastric cancer, circRNA has great potential for clinical transformation.
Objective To study the expression of 4 circular RNA (circRNA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with epilepsy and to predict its function by bioinformatics, so as to provide basis for exploring the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Methods From May 2020 to May 2021, 22 epilepsy patients were treated in the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, and 22 control group were selected. There were 13 males and 8 females in the epilepsy group, with an average age of (36.41±8.39)years. There were 11 males and 11 females in the control group, with an average age of (34.41±8.68) years. The expression levels of circRNA EFCAB2, C14orf159, PARG and TMEM39 in PBMC were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and their functions were predicted by bioinformatics. Results Compared with the control group, the relative expression of EFCAB2 and C14orf159 in PBMC of epileptic patients was 1.42±0.06 (t=29.41) and 1.31±0.03 (t=25.27), PARG and TMEM39 were not detected in peripheral blood PBMC. Bioinformatics analysis showed that three mirnas obtained by EFCAB2 were miR-6873-3p, miR-6739-3p and miR-7110-3p. Three mirnas were obtained by C14orf159: miR-1180-3p, miR-6501-3p, and miR-3622b-5p. The seizure-related genes were predicted by TargetScan database. EFCAB2: miR-6873-3p met the requirements of 11 downstream genes. A total of 7 downstream genes of miR-6739-3p met the requirements.A total of 14 downstream genes were eligible for miR-7110-3p and a total of 9 downstream genes were eligible for miR-6501-3p. A total of 14 downstream genes were eligible for miR-3622B-5p.miR-1180-3p has a total of 1 downstream genes that meet the requirements. Conclusions Studies have shown that two circrnas, EFCAB2 and C14orf159, may be important biological markers of epilepsy. Through bioinformatics analysis, these two circrnas may act as "molecular sponges" to regulate epilepsy. EFCAB2 has the potential to act as a "molecular sponge" for miR-6873-3p and miR-7110-3p, and it was found that miR-6873-3p and miR-7110-3 share a common downstream target gene MAP1B-which plays a role in epilepsy by regulating voltage-gated sodium channels. C14orf159 can act as a molecular sponge for miR-6501-3p to regulate the expression of CCL3 and play a role in epilepsy.
Objective By summarizing the latest research progress of circRNA translation mechanism and reviewing the research progress of circRNA translation in various digestive system tumors, this paper is aiming to forecast the clinical application prospect of circular RNA translation and provide ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system neoplasms. Method The literatures on the translation of circRNA and its role in digestive system neoplasms were searched and reviewed. Results As a member of the non-coding RNA family, circRNAs are generally considered to be difficult to encode proteins as translation templates. With the rapid development of bioinformatics, next-generation sequencing, proteomics and translation omics, it has been found that many kinds of circRNAs can encode proteins or peptides in a cap-independent manner and play a critical role in the development of digestive system neoplasms, including gastric cancer, liver cancer and colorectal cancer. Conclusions The translation function of circRNA plays an important role in the development and progression of digestive system tumors, and its translation products may become new diagnostic or therapeutic targets for digestive system tumors, with great clinical transformation potential.
Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common primary intraocular malignancy in infants and young children, poses a serious threat to visual function and the life of children when systemic metastasis occurs. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a recently discovered class of non-coding RNA that mainly functions as competitive endogenous RNA by regulating gene expression through competing with microRNA. circRNA can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, regulating various biological processes in RB cells, such as proliferation, migration, apoptosis, autophagy, and drug resistance, thereby providing new therapeutic targets for RB. In addition, the differential expression of circRNA in tumor tissues or exosomes is expected to be a potential biomarker for RB. Further studies and explorations are still needed for the functions and regulatory mechanisms of circRNA in RB to reveal their precise roles in organisms and potential clinical applications.