Circular RNAs in liver diseases: Mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Li-Yun Fu; Shu-Wei Wang; Meng-Yuan Hu; Zhen-Luo Jiang; Li-Li Shen; Yu-Ping Zhou; Jun-Ming Guo; Yao-Ren Hu

doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118707

Circular RNAs in liver diseases: Mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Life Sci. 2021 Jan 1:264:118707. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118707. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

Authors

Li-Yun Fu¹, Shu-Wei Wang², Meng-Yuan Hu², Zhen-Luo Jiang³, Li-Li Shen³, Yu-Ping Zhou⁴, Jun-Ming Guo⁵, Yao-Ren Hu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infection and Hepatology, HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315010, China; Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Ningbo 315010, China; Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo 315010, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China. Electronic address: fuliyun@ucas.ac.cn.
² Department of Infection and Hepatology, HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315010, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
³ Department of Infection and Hepatology, HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315010, China.
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
⁶ Department of Infection and Hepatology, HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315010, China; Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Ningbo 315010, China; Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo 315010, China.

PMID: 33144187
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118707

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are formed from the genome through diverse back splicing and feature the closed loop. circRNAs are widely available in a variety of cells and characterized by conservation, structural stability, high abundance and tissue-specific or developmental-specific expression. Recent studies have shown that circRNAs are closely related to liver diseases, such as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. circRNAs play an important role in the progression of liver diseases, are potential diagnostic and prognostic markers, and have translational value in therapy. This article reviews the research on circRNAs in liver diseases, with a view to providing a theoretical basis and new ideas for future research and treatment of liver diseases.

Keywords: Circular RNA; Hepatitis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cirrhosis; Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Exosomes / metabolism
Humans
Liver Diseases / drug therapy*
Liver Diseases / genetics*
Oncogenes
RNA, Circular / biosynthesis
RNA, Circular / genetics*
RNA, Circular / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Circular