Role of Circular RNAs in Cardiovascular Disease

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2020 Aug;76(2):128-137. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000841.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently been identified as a new class of long noncoding RNAs with gene regulatory roles. These covalently closed transcripts are generated when the pre-mRNA splicing machinery back splices to join a downstream 5' splice site to an upstream 3' splice site. CircRNAs are naturally resistant to degradation by exonucleases and have long half-lives compared with their linear counterpart that potentially could serve as biomarkers for disease. Recent evidence highlights that circRNAs may play an essential role in cardiovascular injury and repair. However, our knowledge of circRNA is still in its infancy with limited direct evidence to suggest that circRNA may play critical roles in the mechanism and treatment of cardiac dysfunction. In this review, we focus on our current understanding of circRNA in the cardiovascular system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / genetics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cardiovascular System / metabolism*
  • Cardiovascular System / physiopathology
  • Extracellular Vesicles / genetics
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • RNA, Circular / genetics
  • RNA, Circular / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Circular
  • RNA-Binding Proteins