The pathological mechanisms of circRNAs in mediating intervertebral disc degeneration

Yongjin Li; Suzhe Zhou; Xinli Hu; Shibao Lu

doi:10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.09.004

The pathological mechanisms of circRNAs in mediating intervertebral disc degeneration

Noncoding RNA Res. 2023 Sep 18;8(4):633-640. doi: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.09.004. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Yongjin Li^{1

2}, Suzhe Zhou³, Xinli Hu^{1

2}, Shibao Lu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
² National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China.
³ Department of Orthopedics, Anhui No 2 Provincial People's Hospital, Hefei, China.

Abstract

Lower back pain (LBP) is a worldwide health problem associated with significant economic and social burden. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of LBP. Several studies show that the death of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), abnormal metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and inflammatory response are the key mechanisms behind the pathogenesis of IVDD. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression and play a significant role in regulating NPCs death, ECM homeostasis, and inflammatory response by acting as microRNAs (miRNAs) sponges in IVDD. However, the regulatory role of circRNAs in mediating IVDD remains unknown. This review comprehensively describes the normal anatomic structure and function of IVD, the pathogenesis of IVDD, the characteristics, synthesis, mechanisms, and function of circRNAs. Moreover, we highlighted the 23 circRNAs that mediate ECM metabolism, 16 circRNAs that mediate NPCs apoptosis, circ_0004354 and circ_0040039 that mediate NPCs pyroptosis, and 5 circRNAs that mediate inflammatory response in IVDD. In addition, this review presents suggestions for future studies, such as the need for further investigation on ferroptosis-related circRNAs in IVDD. This review could provide novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of IVDD.

Keywords: Circular RNAs; Extracellular matrix; Inflammatory response; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Nucleus pulposus cells.

Publication types

Review