Rapid Development of Targeting circRNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are circularized, single-stranded RNAs that are covalently linked. With their abundance in tissues and developmental stage-specific expression, circRNAs participate in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we discuss the development of circRNAs used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), focusing on recent discoveries and applications of exosomal circRNAs that highlight opportunities and challenges. Some studies have identified a spectrum of circRNAs that are differentially expressed in CVDs, while other studies further manipulated specific circRNA expression and showed an ameliorated pathogenic state such as ischemic injury, hypertrophy, and cardiac fibrosis. Studies and applications of circRNAs are being rapidly developed. We expect to see clinical use of circRNAs as biomarkers and targets for disease treatment in the near future.

• Authors: Chao Zhang, Si Tong Huo, Zhiyong Wu, Lina Chen, Chang Wen, Honghao Chen, William W Du, Nan Wu, Daogang Guan, Sen Lian, Burton B Yang
• Journal: Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids (Mol Ther Nucleic Acids) Vol. 21 Pg. 568-576 (Sep 04 2020) ISSN: 2162-2531 [Print] United States
• PMID: 32721877 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.