Regulatory Functions and Mechanisms of Circular RNAs in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis

Archittapon Nokkeaw; Pannathon Thamjamrassri; Pisit Tangkijvanich; Chaiyaboot Ariyachet

doi:10.3390/cells12030378

Regulatory Functions and Mechanisms of Circular RNAs in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis

Cells. 2023 Jan 19;12(3):378. doi: 10.3390/cells12030378.

Authors

Archittapon Nokkeaw^{1

2

3}, Pannathon Thamjamrassri^{1

2

3}, Pisit Tangkijvanich^{1

2}, Chaiyaboot Ariyachet^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
² Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
³ Medical Biochemistry Program, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Abstract

Chronic liver injury induces the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts, which produce excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting in tissue fibrosis. If the injury persists, these fibrous scars could be permanent and disrupt liver architecture and function. Currently, effective anti-fibrotic therapies are lacking; hence, understanding molecular mechanisms that control HSC activation could hold a key to the development of new treatments. Recently, emerging studies have revealed roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs that was initially assumed to be the result of splicing errors, as new regulators in HSC activation. These circRNAs can modulate the activity of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their interacting protein partners involved in regulating fibrogenic signaling cascades. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge of this class of non-coding RNAs for their molecular function in HSC activation and liver fibrosis progression.

Keywords: circular RNA; hepatic stellate cells; liver fibrosis; microRNA; non-coding RNA.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Fibrosis
Hepatic Stellate Cells / metabolism
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
MicroRNAs* / genetics
MicroRNAs* / metabolism
RNA, Circular* / genetics
RNA, Circular* / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Circular
MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund Chulalongkorn University (CU_FRB65_hea (46)_053_30_34), Ratchadapiseksompotch Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (Grant No. RA 66/017), Thailand Research Fund (TRF) Senior Research Scholar (Grant No. RTA6280004), and Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.