Role of circRNAs in viral infection and their significance for diagnosis and treatment (Review)

Int J Mol Med. 2021 May;47(5):88. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4921. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non‑coding RNAs with a circular, covalent structure that lack both 5' ends and 3' poly(A) tails, which are stable and specific molecules that exist in eukaryotic cells and are highly conserved. The role of circRNAs in viral infections is being increasingly acknowledged, since circRNAs have been discovered to be involved in several viral infections (such as hepatitis B virus infection and human papilloma virus infection) through a range of circRNA/microRNA/mRNA regulatory axes. These findings have prompted investigations into the potential of circRNAs as targets for the diagnosis and treatment of viral infection‑related diseases. The aim of the present review was to systematically examine and discuss the role of circRNAs in several common viral infections, as well as their potential as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Keywords: circRNA; viral infection; host cell; biomarker; therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • RNA, Circular / genetics
  • RNA, Circular / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Virus Diseases / diagnosis
  • Virus Diseases / genetics*
  • Virus Diseases / therapy
  • Virus Diseases / virology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Circular
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

The present study was supported by the Changsha Municipal Natural Science Foundation (grant no. kq2007065), Teacher Research Fund of Central South University (grant no. 2014JSJJ034) and Innovation Project of Central South University (grant no. xcx201990539).