The roles of circular RNAs in human development and diseases

Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 Mar:111:198-208. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.052. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

Abstract

For many years, circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) have been counted as aberrant splicing by-products. Advanced bioinformatics analysis and deep sequencing techniques have allowed researchers to discover more interesting facts about circRNAs. Intriguing evidence has shed light on the functions of circRNAs in many tissues. Furthermore, emerging reports showed that circRNAs are found abundantly in saliva and blood samples, suggesting that circRNAs are potential clinical biomarkers for human embryonic development, diseases progression and prognosis, in addition to its role in organogenesis and pathogenesis. The implementation of circRNAs in human developmental stages and diseases would be a tremendous discovery in the science and medical field. Therefore, circRNAs have been studied for its biological function as well as its implication in various human diseases. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of circRNAs in cardiac, respiratory, nervous, endocrine and digestive systems. In addition, the role and impact of circRNAs in, cardiogenesis, neurogenesis and cancer have been discussed.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Circular RNAs; Development; Diseases; Organogenesis; Systems.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Disease Progression*
  • Embryonic Development / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / blood
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / blood
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / diagnosis
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
  • RNA / physiology*
  • RNA, Circular

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • RNA, Circular
  • RNA