Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of single-stranded RNA that binds in a closed loop structure by covalent bond. It is highly expressed and has diverse functions in the eukaryotic transcriptome, and it also has the potential to regulate the process of cell differentiation. Stem cells are important seed cells and common research tools in the field of tissue engineering, which have multi-directional differentiation potential and low immunogenicity. Its clinical application for the treatment of diseases has broad prospects, and the research on their differentiation mechanism has gradually penetrated to the molecular level. A number of studies have shown that circRNA participates in stem cell differentiation and plays a key role through a variety of pathways. This article focuses on the expression changes of circRNA during stem cell differentiation and its research advancement in regulating the differentiation mechanism of various stem cells. The review also prospects its possible role in tissue regeneration and repair, in order to further study the molecular mechanism of circRNA involved in stem cell differentiation and provide ideas for clinical practice of stem cells in biomedical engineering.
环状 RNA（circRNA）是一类以共价键结合呈闭合环状结构的单链 RNA，在真核转录组中高度表达且功能多样，具有调控细胞分化进程的潜力。干细胞是组织工程领域的重要种子细胞和常用研究工具，具有多向分化潜能且免疫原性低，在治疗临床疾病方面应用前景广阔。目前学者对干细胞分化机制研究也逐渐深入到分子水平，多项研究表明 circRNA 通过多种途径参与了干细胞分化过程并发挥关键作用。本文侧重阐述干细胞分化过程中 circRNA 的表达变化及其调控各类干细胞分化机制的科研进展前沿，并对其在组织再生修复中的可能应用进行展望，以期为 circRNA 参与干细胞分化分子机制的进一步实验研究及干细胞用于生物医学工程临床实践提供思路。.
Keywords: biomedical engineering; circular RNA; differentiation; stem cells; tissue engineering.