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Liu X, Feng J, Guo M, Chen C, Zhao T, Sun X, Zhang Y. Resetting the aging clock through epigenetic reprogramming: Insights from natural products. Pharmacol Ther 2025; 270:108850. [PMID: 40221101 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2025.108850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 12/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications play a critical role in regulating gene expression under various physiological and pathological conditions. Epigenetic modifications reprogramming is a recognized hallmark of aging and a key component of the aging clock used to differentiate between chronological and biological age. The potential for prospective diagnosis and regulatory capabilities position epigenetic modifications as an emerging drug target to extend longevity and alleviate age-related organ dysfunctions. In the past few decades, numerous preclinical studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of natural products in various human diseases, including aging, with some advancing to clinical trials and clinical application. This review highlights the discovery and recent advancements in the aging clock, as well as the potential use of natural products as anti-aging therapeutics by correcting disordered epigenetic reprogramming. Specifically, the focus is on the imbalance of histone modifications, alterations in DNA methylation patterns, disrupted ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, and changes in RNA modifications. By exploring these areas, new insights can be gained into aging prediction and anti-aging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; State Key Laboratory -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, and Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Jing Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; State Key Laboratory -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, and Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Madi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; State Key Laboratory -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, and Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Chen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; State Key Laboratory -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, and Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Tong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; State Key Laboratory -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, and Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xiuxiu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; State Key Laboratory -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, and Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; State Key Laboratory -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, and Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China.
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Jeong H, Son S, Lee G, Park JH, Yoo S. Biogenesis of circular RNAs in vitro and in vivo from the Drosophila Nk2.1/scarecrow gene. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2025; 15:jkaf055. [PMID: 40071305 PMCID: PMC12060249 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2025] [Indexed: 03/19/2025]
Abstract
The scarecrow (scro) gene encodes a fly homolog of mammalian Nkx2.1, which is vital for early fly development and for optic lobe development. Previously, scro was reported to produce a circular RNA in addition to traditional mRNAs. In this study, we report 12 different scro circular RNAs, which are either mono or multiexonic forms. The most abundant ones are circScro(2) carrying the second exon (E2) only and bi-exonic circScro(3,4) having both the third (E3) and fourth exon (E4). Levels of circScro(2) show an age-dependent increase in adult heads, supporting a general trend of high accumulation of circular RNAs in aged fly brains. In silico analysis of the introns flanking circular RNA exons predicts 2 pairs of intronic complementary sequences; 1 pair residing in introns 1 and 2 and the other in introns 2 and 4. The first pair was demonstrated to be essential for the circScro(2) production in cell-based assays; furthermore, deletion of the region including intronic complementary sequence components in the intron-2 reduces in vivo production of both circScro(2) and circScro(3,4) by 80%, indicating them to be essential for the biogenesis of the 2 circular RNAs. Besides the intronic complementary sequence, the intron regions immediately abutting exons seem to be responsible for a basal level of circular RNA formation. Moreover, ectopic intronic complementary sequence derived from the laccase2 locus is comparably effective in circScro production, buttressing the importance of the hairpin loop structure formed by intronic complementary sequence for the biogenesis of circular RNA. Last, overexpressed scro alters outcomes of both linear and circular RNAs from the endogenous scro locus, suggesting that Scro plays a direct or indirect role in regulating the expression levels of either or both forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Jeong
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Suhyeon Son
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyunghee Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Jae H Park
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Graduate Program of Genome Science & Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Siuk Yoo
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Republic of Korea
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3
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Yao L, Zhang X, Li X, Xu J, Yang S, Li F, Chen W, Shan Y, Ren L, Zhuo C, Liang S, Chen L, Yin W, Liu H, Liu L, Feng M, Chen K, Chen S, He C. circAFF2 promotes the development of AML by binding to PML mRNA. Oncogene 2025; 44:1234-1244. [PMID: 39930271 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-025-03299-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 01/17/2025] [Accepted: 02/04/2025] [Indexed: 05/04/2025]
Abstract
AML is a complex disease caused by multiple molecular mechanisms. As an important regulatory molecule, the role of circRNA in AML is not fully understood. By performing high-throughput sequencing on clinical samples, we systematically identified the differences in circRNA expression and distribution between AML and healthy donor samples. One circular RNA, circAFF2, was found to be significantly upregulated in AML patients. Functional studies showed that knockdown of circAFF2 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of AML cells and promote their apoptosis. Overexpression of circAFF2 can have opposite effects. In vivo experiments showed that transplantation of AML cells with circAFF2 knockdown slowed the proliferation and infiltration and prolonged the survival time of mice compared to controls. Further studies showed that circAFF2 can promote the degradation of PML mRNA by binding to the 3'UTR of PML mRNA, thereby affecting the proliferation and apoptosis of AML cells. In conclusion, our work demonstrates that circAFF2 can bind to PML mRNA to regulate AML cell function, providing new insights into the mechanism of AML development and potential targets for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Animals
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Mice
- RNA, Circular/genetics
- RNA, Circular/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation/genetics
- Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein/genetics
- Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein/metabolism
- Apoptosis/genetics
- 3' Untranslated Regions
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Male
- Female
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yao
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyang Zhang
- TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoqing Li
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Siqi Yang
- TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fengyue Li
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenbo Chen
- TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuxin Shan
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Linli Ren
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenjian Zhuo
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sisi Liang
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Hospital of Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weinan Yin
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hudan Liu
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingbo Liu
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingqian Feng
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Chen
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Shuliang Chen
- TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Chunjiang He
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
- TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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4
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Zhang J, Zhao F. Circular RNA discovery with emerging sequencing and deep learning technologies. Nat Genet 2025; 57:1089-1102. [PMID: 40247051 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02157-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2025] [Indexed: 04/19/2025]
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) represents a type of RNA molecule characterized by a closed-loop structure that is distinct from linear RNA counterparts. Recent studies have revealed the emerging role of these circular transcripts in gene regulation and disease pathogenesis. However, their low expression levels and high sequence similarity to linear RNAs present substantial challenges for circRNA detection and characterization. Recent advances in long-read and single-cell RNA sequencing technologies, coupled with sophisticated deep learning-based algorithms, have revolutionized the investigation of circRNAs at unprecedented resolution and scale. This Review summarizes recent breakthroughs in circRNA discovery, characterization and functional analysis algorithms. We also discuss the challenges associated with integrating large-scale circRNA sequencing data and explore the potential future development of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven algorithms to unlock the full potential of circRNA research in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyang Zhang
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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5
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Lin Y, Wang Y, Li L, Zhang K. Coding circular RNA in human cancer. Genes Dis 2025; 12:101347. [PMID: 40034125 PMCID: PMC11875173 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2024.101347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
circular RNA (circRNA) is a covalently closed single-stranded RNA that lacks 5' and 3' ends and has long been considered a noncoding RNA. With the development of high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics technology, the understanding of circRNA has become increasingly advanced. Recent studies have shown that some cytoplasmic circRNAs can be effectively translated into detectable proteins, further indicating the importance of circRNA in cellular pathology and physiological functions. Internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mediated cap-independent translation initiation are considered potential mechanisms of circRNA translation. Multiple circRNAs have been shown to play crucial roles in human cancer. This paper provides an overview of the nature and functions of circRNA and describes the possible mechanisms underlying the initiation of circRNA translation. We summarized the emerging functions of circRNA-encoded proteins in human cancer. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of circRNAs and the challenges of research in this field. This review on circRNA translation will reveal a hidden human proteome and enhance our understanding of the importance of circRNAs in human malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lixin Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
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Liu S, Wan X, Gou Y, Yang W, Xu W, Du Y, Peng X, Wang X, Zhang X. The emerging functions and clinical implications of circRNAs in acute myeloid leukaemia. Cancer Cell Int 2025; 25:167. [PMID: 40296024 PMCID: PMC12038945 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-025-03772-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a prevalent haematologic malignancy characterized by significant heterogeneity. Despite the application of aggressive therapeutic approaches, AML remains associated with poor prognosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) constitute a unique class of single-stranded RNAs featuring covalently closed loop structures that are ubiquitous across species. These molecules perform crucial regulatory functions in the pathogenesis of various diseases through diverse mechanisms, including acting as miRNA sponges, interacting with DNA or proteins, and encoding functional proteins/polypeptides. Recently, numerous circRNAs have been confirmed to have aberrant expression patterns in AML patients. In particular, certain circRNAs are closely associated with specific clinicopathological characteristics and thus have great potential as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in AML. Herein, we systematically summarize the biogenesis, degradation, and functional mechanisms of circRNAs while highlighting their clinical relevance. We also outline a series of online databases and analytical tools available to facilitate circRNA research. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future research priorities in this evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiqing Liu
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xingyu Wan
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Yang Gou
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Wuchen Yang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Yuxuan Du
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xiangui Peng
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
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Kirio K, Patop IL, Anduaga AM, Harris J, Pamudurti N, Su TN, Martel C, Kadener S. Circular RNAs exhibit exceptional stability in the aging brain and serve as reliable age and experience indicators. Cell Rep 2025; 44:115485. [PMID: 40184256 PMCID: PMC12105716 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2025] [Accepted: 03/07/2025] [Indexed: 04/06/2025] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) increase in the brain with age across various animal systems. To elucidate the reasons behind this phenomenon, we profile circRNAs from fly heads at six time points throughout their lifespan. Our results reveal a linear increase in circRNA levels with age, independent of changes in mRNA levels, overall transcription, intron retention, or host gene splicing, demonstrating that the age-related accumulation is due to high stability rather than increased biogenesis. This remarkable stability suggests that circRNAs can serve as markers of environmental experience. Indeed, flies exposed to a 10-day regimen at 29°C exhibit higher levels of specific circRNAs even 6 weeks after returning to standard conditions, indicating that circRNAs can reveal past environmental stimuli. Moreover, half-life measurements show circRNA stability exceeding 20 days, with some displaying virtually no degradation. These findings underscore the remarkable stability of circRNAs in vivo and their potential as markers for stress and life experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Kirio
- Biology Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | | | | | - Jenna Harris
- Biology Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | | | - The Nandar Su
- Biology Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Claire Martel
- Biology Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
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8
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Wu H, Tang H, Han X, Ngando FJ, Shang Y, Guo Y. Identification of circular RNAs as biomarkers for pupal age estimation and postmortem interval in forensically important Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Int J Legal Med 2025:10.1007/s00414-025-03490-6. [PMID: 40227424 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-025-03490-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2025] [Indexed: 04/15/2025]
Abstract
Accurate estimation of the pupal age in necrophagous flies is vital for determining the postmortem interval (PMI) in forensic entomology. Differential expression of genes (DEGs) exhibits temporal fluctuations across the developmental stages of these flies. This study evaluates circular RNAs (circRNAs) as novel molecular markers and develops a model for predicting pupal development time based on circRNA expression. Transcriptomic analysis of Sarcophaga peregrina pupae at various stages identified four circRNAs (circRNA_0037, circRNA_0531, circRNA_3373, circRNA_2847) showing significant expression differences. Using real-time quantitative PCR and regression analysis, we constructed a model to estimate development time, which accurately predicts intra-puparial periods. Additionally, we examined circRNA degradation patterns in pupae under lethal conditions and identified a clear degradation trend in circRNA_2847, suggesting its potential use for estimating the PMI. This study introduces new molecular markers and insights for estimating necrophagous fly pupal age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Wu
- Department of Forensic Science, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Haojie Tang
- Department of Forensic Science, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Xing Han
- Department of Forensic Science, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Fernand Jocelin Ngando
- Department of Forensic Science, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
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9
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Shrestha L, Leier A. Identification of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactome associated with Parkinson's disease progression. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2025:1877718X251331930. [PMID: 40183359 DOI: 10.1177/1877718x251331930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2025]
Abstract
BackgroundCircular RNAs (circRNAs) constitute a distinctive subclass of RNAs that are known for their regulatory roles in fundamental cellular processes. Due to their increased stability and ubiquitous expression, circular RNAs have been widely studied as potential molecular targets in various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. While several studies have found differentially expressed circRNAs associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), none has looked specifically into PD progression.ObjectiveTo elucidate the role of circRNAs in the progression of PD by identifying dysregulated circRNAs associated with PD progression and to pinpoint potential downstream miRNAs and associated differentially expressed gene targets.MethodsIn this study, we have utilized large-scale, longitudinal, and deep RNA-seq data from two independent cohorts, namely the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) and the Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Program (PDBP), to characterize circRNA expression in patients of early PD stage.ResultsWe identified six circRNAs significantly differentially expressed in whole blood samples obtained from PD patients over time. Additionally, we were able to map a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network with potential downstream miRNA-mRNA targets and, with the help of co-expression analysis, to identify genes associated with PD progression. Our findings provide compelling evidence for a dysregulated circRNA interactome as an indicator of PD progression, with changes in the expression of these circRNAs and downstream gene targets being significantly associated with changes in UPDRS III scores in PD patients.ConclusionsOur results strongly indicate the association of circular RNAs with PD progression and emphasize its significance as a critical molecular marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Shrestha
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - André Leier
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Cell, Development and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
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10
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Hatzimanolis O, Sykes AM, Cristino AS. Circular RNAs in neurological conditions - computational identification, functional validation, and potential clinical applications. Mol Psychiatry 2025; 30:1652-1675. [PMID: 39966624 PMCID: PMC11919710 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-025-02925-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2024] [Revised: 01/11/2025] [Accepted: 02/10/2025] [Indexed: 02/20/2025]
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained significant attention in recent years due to advancements in biotechnology, particularly high-throughput total RNA sequencing. These developments have led to new understandings of non-coding biology, revealing that approximately 80% of non-coding regions in the genome possesses biochemical functionality. Among ncRNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs), first identified in 1976, have emerged as a prominent research field. CircRNAs are abundant in most human cell types, evolutionary conserved, highly stable, and formed by back-splicing events which generate covalently closed ends. Notably, circRNAs exhibit high expression levels in neural tissue and perform diverse biochemical functions, including acting as molecular sponges for microRNAs, interacting with RNA-binding proteins to regulate their availability and activity, modulating transcription and splicing, and even translating into functional peptides in some cases. Recent advancements in computational and experimental methods have enhanced our ability to identify and validate circRNAs, providing valuable insights into their biological roles. This review focuses on recent developments in circRNA research as they related to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions. We also explore their potential applications in clinical diagnostics, therapeutics, and future research directions. CircRNAs remain a relatively underexplored area of non-coding biology, particularly in the context of neurological disorders. However, emerging evidence supports their role as critical players in the etiology and molecular mechanisms of conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. These findings suggest that circRNAs may provide a novel framework contributing to the molecular dysfunctions underpinning these complex neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oak Hatzimanolis
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alex M Sykes
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alexandre S Cristino
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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11
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Dremel SE, Koparde VN, Arbuckle JH, Hogan CH, Kristie TM, Krug LT, Conrad NK, Ziegelbauer JM. Noncanonical circRNA biogenesis driven by alpha and gamma herpesviruses. EMBO J 2025; 44:2323-2352. [PMID: 40033018 PMCID: PMC12000468 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-025-00398-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2025] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Herpesviruses require the host transcriptional machinery, inducing significant changes in gene expression to prioritize viral transcripts. We examined alpha- and gamma-herpesvirus alterations to a type of alternative splicing, namely circular RNA (circRNA) synthesis. We developed "Circrnas in Host And viRuses anaLysis pIpEline" (CHARLIE) to facilitate viral profiling. This method identified thousands of back-splicing variants, including circRNA common to lytic and latent phases of infection. Ours is the first report of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 circRNAs, including species derived from ICP0 and the latency-associated transcript. We characterized back-splicing cis- and trans-elements, and found viral circRNAs resistant to spliceosome perturbation and lacking canonical splice donor-acceptors. Subsequent loss-of-function studies of host RNA ligases (RTCB, RLIG1) revealed instances of decreased viral back splicing. Using eCLIP and 4sU-Sequencing, we determined that the KSHV RNA-binding protein, ORF57, enhanced synthesis for a subset of viral and host circRNAs. Our work explores unique splicing mechanisms driven by lytic infection, and identifies a class of transcripts with the potential to function in replication, persistence, or tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Dremel
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Vishal N Koparde
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Sciences, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA
| | - Jesse H Arbuckle
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Chad H Hogan
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Institute for Genomic Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Thomas M Kristie
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Laurie T Krug
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nicholas K Conrad
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Joseph M Ziegelbauer
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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12
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Alshareef HZ, Ballinger T, Rojas E, van der Linden AM. Loss of age-accumulated crh-1 circRNAs ameliorate amyloid β-induced toxicity in a C. elegans model for Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2025; 17:1464015. [PMID: 40196178 PMCID: PMC11973312 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1464015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2025] [Indexed: 04/09/2025] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs mostly derived from exons of protein-coding genes via a back-splicing process. The expression of hundreds of circRNAs accumulates during healthy aging and is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins. In C. elegans, many circRNAs were previously found to accumulate during aging, with loss of age-accumulated circRNAs derived from the CREB gene (circ-crh-1) to increase mean lifespan. Here, we used C. elegans to study the effects of age-accumulated circRNAs on the age-related onset of Aβ-toxicity. We found that circ-crh-1 mutations delayed Aβ-induced muscle paralysis and lifespan phenotypes in a transgenic C. elegans strain expressing a full-length human Aβ-peptide (Aβ1-42) selectively in muscle cells (GMC101). The delayed Aβ phenotypic defects were associated with the inhibition of Aβ aggregate deposition, and thus, genetic removal of circ-crh-1 alleviated Aβ-induced toxicity. Consistent with a detrimental role for age-accumulated circRNAs in AD, the expression level of circ-crh-1 expression is elevated after induction of Aβ during aging, whereas linear crh-1 mRNA expression remains unchanged. Finally, we found that the delayed onset of Aβ-induced paralysis observed in circ-crh-1 mutants is dependent on the col-49 collagen gene. Taken together, our results show that the loss of an age-accumulated circRNA exerts a protective role on Aβ-induced toxicity, demonstrating the utility of C. elegans for studying circRNAs in AD and its relationship to aging.
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Liu J, Wang Y, Zheng M, Du J, Maarouf M, Chen JL. Roles of circRNAs in viral pathogenesis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2025; 15:1564258. [PMID: 40182764 PMCID: PMC11966423 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1564258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2025] [Accepted: 02/25/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with a covalently closed circular structure, lacking 5'-caps or 3'-poly(A) tails. They are relatively conserved, highly stable, and often exhibit tissue- or cell-specific production in eukaryotic cells. Based on the advances in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics, multiple reports have suggested that viruses and other microorganisms may encode circRNA-like molecules, providing new insights into the physiological and pathological roles of circRNAs. The innate immune system functions as the body's primary defense mechanism against viral infections. It detects pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activates signaling pathways to suppress viral replication and limit their spread. CircRNAs are involved in regulation of the host innate immune signaling pathways and play essential roles in viral pathogenesis. It has been shown that circRNAs can regulate gene expression by acting as miRNA sponges or protein sponges, or encoding small proteins in specific cases. For example, previous studies have revealed that circRNAs participate in the host antiviral immune response through the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network by acting as miRNA sponges. This review highlights research progress in the regulation and functions of host- and virus-encoded circRNAs in host-virus interactions, as well as their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meichun Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiayuan Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mohamed Maarouf
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ji-Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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14
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Liu W, Niu J, Huo Y, Zhang L, Han L, Zhang N, Yang M. Role of circular RNAs in cancer therapy resistance. Mol Cancer 2025; 24:55. [PMID: 39994791 PMCID: PMC11854110 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-025-02254-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2025] [Accepted: 01/30/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have gained recognition as a novel class of genetic molecules, many of which are implicated in cancer pathogenesis via different mechanisms, including drug resistance, immune escape, and radio-resistance. ExosomalcircRNAs, in particular, facilitatecommunication between tumour cells and micro-environmental cells, including immune cells, fibroblasts, and other components. Notably, micro-environmental cells can reportedly influence tumour progression and treatment resistance by releasing exosomalcircRNAs. circRNAs often exhibit tissue- and cancer-specific expression patterns, and growing evidence highlights their potential clinical relevance and utility. These molecules show strong promise as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, this review aimed to briefly discuss the latest findings on the roles and resistance mechanisms of key circRNAs in the treatment of various malignancies, including lung, breast, liver, colorectal, and gastric cancers, as well as haematological malignancies and neuroblastoma.This review will contribute to the identification of new circRNA biomarkers for the early diagnosis as well as therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China
| | - Jiling Niu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China
| | - Yanfei Huo
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China
| | - Linyu Han
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China
| | - Nasha Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Ming Yang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, Shandong Province, China.
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15
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Shi J, Song C, Zhang P, Wang J, Huang W, Yu T, Wei Z, Wang L, Zhao L, Zhang R, Hou L, Zhang Y, Chen H, Wang H. Microglial circDlg1 modulates neuroinflammation by blocking PDE4B ubiquitination-dependent degradation associated with Alzheimer's disease. Theranostics 2025; 15:3401-3423. [PMID: 40093898 PMCID: PMC11905123 DOI: 10.7150/thno.104709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2025] [Indexed: 03/19/2025] Open
Abstract
Background: Abnormal activation of microglia occurs in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and leads to subsequent neuroinflammation and major AD pathologies. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as great potential therapeutic targets in AD. However, the extent of circRNAs entwined and the underlying mechanism in microglia-driven neuroinflammation in AD remain elusive. Methods: The circular RNA Dlg1 (circDlg1) was identified using circRNA microarray screening in magnetic-isolated microglia of APP/PS1 mice. CircDlg1 expression in microglia of APP/PS1 mice and AD patients was validated by FISH. Flow cytometry and immunostaining were conducted to explore the roles of circDlg1 in microglia. Adeno-associated virus 9 preparations for interfering with microglial circDlg1 were microinjected into mouse lateral ventricle to explore influences on microglial response, neuroinflammation and AD pathologies. Y-maze, novel object recognition and Morris water maze tasks were performed to assess cognitive performance. RNA pulldown assays, mass spectrometry analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation, and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to validate the underlying regulatory mechanisms of circDlg1. Results: A novel circular RNA circDlg1 was observed elevated using circRNA microarray screening in microglia isolated from APP/PS1 mice and validated increased in intracerebral microglia of AD patients. Microglia-specific knockdown of circDlg1 remarkably ameliorated microglial recruitment and envelopment of amyloid-β (Aβ), mitigated neuroinflammation, and prevented cognitive decline in APP/PS1 mice. Mechanistically, circDlg1 interfered with the interaction between phosphodiesterase 4b (PDE4B) and Smurf2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase of PDE4B. The formed ternary complex protected PDE4B from ubiquitination-dependent degradation via unique N-terminal targeting domain, thus consequently decreasing cAMP levels. We further confirmed that microglial circDlg1 downregulation significantly activated PKA/CREB anti-inflammatory pathway by decreasing PDE4B protein levels in APP/PS1 mice. Conclusion: The novel microglia-upregulated circDlg1 tightly involves in neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice via determining the protein fate of PDE4B. Microglial loss of circDlg1 promotes microglial protective response to Aβ deposition and relieves neuroinflammation, thus suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy that specifically targets the microglial response in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyun Shi
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chenghuan Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Pingao Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wanying Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ting Yu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zijie Wei
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lufeng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Lanxue Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lina Hou
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yongfang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hongzhuan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Shuguang Lab of Future Health, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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16
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Hassan FU, Safdar M, Younus M, Arain MA. Regulation of energy metabolism by non-coding RNAs in livestock species: a review. J Comp Physiol B 2025; 195:1-12. [PMID: 39638953 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-024-01596-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
The optimisation of livestock production relies on efficient energy metabolism. This review focused on elaborate regulatory processes governed by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). It explores the complex energy metabolism processes in livestock, elucidating the functions of ncRNAs in the expression of genes and pathways. miRNAs have been identified as significant regulators of glycolysis and glucose metabolism, whereas lncRNAs are known to affect adipogenesis and mitochondrial activity. Moreover, circRNAs have a substantial influence on the regulation of energy. In addition, this is not only enriching non-coding RNA-mediated energy control but also sheds light on possible applications. It is derived from its ability to condense complex molecular systems, thereby offering crucial insights to researchers. Through a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between ncRNAs and energy metabolism, the information of this review provides a valuable framework for the implementation of focused interventions that hold the potential to significantly enhance the efficiency of livestock production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiz-Ul Hassan
- Department of Breeding and Genetics, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, 63000, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Safdar
- Department of Breeding and Genetics, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, 63000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Younus
- Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, 63000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Asif Arain
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Water and Marine Sciences, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Uthal, 90150, Balochistan, Pakistan
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17
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Li Y, Sun S. RNA dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases. EMBO J 2025; 44:613-638. [PMID: 39789319 PMCID: PMC11790913 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00352-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 11/27/2024] [Accepted: 12/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2025] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of RNA processing has in recent years emerged as a significant contributor to neurodegeneration. The diverse mechanisms and molecular functions underlying RNA processing underscore the essential role of RNA regulation in maintaining neuronal health and function. RNA molecules are bound by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and interactions between RNAs and RBPs are commonly affected in neurodegeneration. In this review, we highlight recent progress in understanding dysregulated RNA-processing pathways and the causes of RBP dysfunction across various neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss both established and emerging mechanisms of RNA-mediated neuropathogenesis in this rapidly evolving field. Furthermore, we explore the development of potential RNA-targeting therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yini Li
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Shuying Sun
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Departments of Neuroscience, Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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18
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Srinivasan A, Mroczko-Młotek E, Wojciechowska M. Circular RNA Formation and Degradation Are Not Directed by Universal Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:726. [PMID: 39859439 PMCID: PMC11766002 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26020726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2024] [Revised: 01/07/2025] [Accepted: 01/14/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of unique transcripts characterized by a covalently closed loop structure, which differentiates them from conventional linear RNAs. The formation of circRNAs occurs co-transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally through a distinct type of splicing known as back-splicing, which involves the formation of a head-to-tail splice junction between a 5' splice donor and an upstream 3' splice acceptor. This process, along with exon skipping, intron retention, cryptic splice site utilization, and lariat-driven intron processing, results in the generation of three main types of circRNAs (exonic, intronic, and exonic-intronic) and their isoforms. The intricate biogenesis of circRNAs is regulated by the interplay of cis-regulatory elements and trans-acting factors, with intronic Alu repeats and RNA-binding proteins playing pivotal roles, at least in the formation of exonic circRNAs. Various hypotheses regarding pathways of circRNA turnover are forwarded, including endonucleolytic cleavage and exonuclease-mediated degradation; however, similarly to the inconclusive nature of circRNA biogenesis, the process of their degradation and the factors involved remain largely unclear. There is a knowledge gap regarding whether these processes are guided by universal pathways or whether each category of circRNAs requires special tools and particular mechanisms for their life cycles. Understanding these factors is pivotal for fully comprehending the biological significance of circRNAs. This review provides an overview of the various pathways involved in the biogenesis and degradation of different types of circRNAs and explores key factors that have beneficial or adverse effects on the formation and stability of these unique transcripts in higher eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marzena Wojciechowska
- Department of Rare Diseases, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland; (A.S.); (E.M.-M.)
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19
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Gao Y, Takenaka K, Xu SM, Cheng Y, Janitz M. Recent advances in investigation of circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks through RNA sequencing data analysis. Brief Funct Genomics 2025; 24:elaf005. [PMID: 40251826 PMCID: PMC12008121 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elaf005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2025] [Accepted: 03/18/2025] [Indexed: 04/21/2025] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules that are transcribed from DNA but are not translated into proteins. Studies over the past decades have revealed that ncRNAs can be classified into small RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs by genomic size and structure. Accumulated evidences have eludicated the critical roles of these non-coding transcripts in regulating gene expression through transcription and translation, thereby shaping cellular function and disease pathogenesis. Notably, recent studies have investigated the function of ncRNAs as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) that sequester miRNAs and modulate mRNAs expression. The ceRNAs network emerges as a pivotal regulatory function, with significant implications in various diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, we highlighted multiple bioinformatics tools and databases that aim to predict ceRNAs interaction. Furthermore, we discussed limitations of using current technologies and potential improvement for ceRNAs network detection. Understanding of the dynamic interplay within ceRNAs may advance the biological comprehension, as well as providing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulan Gao
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 via Botany St, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Konii Takenaka
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 via Botany St, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Si-Mei Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 via Botany St, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Yuning Cheng
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 via Botany St, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Michael Janitz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 via Botany St, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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20
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Huang J, He J, She Z, Zhou M, Li D, Chen J, Ke C. Transcriptome Analysis of Muscle Growth-Related circRNA in the Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hanna. Genes (Basel) 2025; 16:65. [PMID: 39858612 PMCID: PMC11764893 DOI: 10.3390/genes16010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2024] [Revised: 12/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Animal growth is a complex process, involving the coordination of a wide variety of genes, non-coding RNAs, and pathways. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) belong to a novel class of functional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). They have a distinctive ring structure and are involved in various biological processes, including the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of muscle cells. The Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai is an economically valuable mollusk species cultivated in China. However, the modulation of muscle growth by circRNAs in this species is poorly understood. (2) Methods: In this study, we analyzed the muscle transcriptomes of 6 H. discus hannai specimens: three small (S_HD) and three large (L_HD) groups via RNA-seq and bioinformatics technology. (3) Results: The results indicated the presence of 11,744 circRNAs in abalone adductor muscle. Furthermore, the L_HD group had 250 significantly differentially expressed circRNAs (106 upregulated and 144 downregulated) relative to the S_HD group. Moreover, the bioinformatics assessment revealed that circRNAs were related to lipid transporter activity, lipid biosynthetic process, fat digestion and absorption, the single-organism metabolic process, the thyroid hormone signaling pathway, and the hippo signaling pathway, which regulates growth. Seventeen key candidate circRNAs were identified, and a core functional circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network associated with abalone muscle growth was described. Gene expression was verified using qRT-PCR, confirming the accuracy of the RNA-seq data. (4) Conclusion: Overall, this investigation furnishes novel evidence for the potential muscle growth modulatory mechanisms in Pacific abalone. These high-quality circRNA data of abalone muscle provide a reference for functional studies on the abalone genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfang Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (J.H.); (J.H.); (Z.S.)
| | - Jian He
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (J.H.); (J.H.); (Z.S.)
| | - Zhenghan She
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (J.H.); (J.H.); (Z.S.)
| | - Mingcan Zhou
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China;
| | - Dongchang Li
- Jinjiang Fuda Abalone Aquaculture Co., Ltd., Quanzhou 362251, China;
| | - Jianming Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (J.H.); (J.H.); (Z.S.)
| | - Caihuan Ke
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China;
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21
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Rai AK, Garikipati VNS. Quantitative Real-Time PCR for Circular RNA Detection and Analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2025; 2894:133-141. [PMID: 39699815 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4342-6_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2024]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, nearly 2% of the genome represented by the coding proteins. However, emerging evidence suggest more than 75% of the human genome referred to as noncoding part also plays a crucial role in governing major regulatory pathways. Noncoding RNAs can be categorized into several groups, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), small nuclear RNA (snRNAs), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNAs), transfer RNA (tRNA), and circular RNA (circRNAs), which contribute to this regulatory landscape. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are identified as a new class of regulatory noncoding RNAs with gene regulatory roles by acting as miRNA or RNA binding protein sponges or interacting with proteins. Researchers employ quantitative real-time PCR methods to examine circular RNA expression utilizing divergent primers for identification and quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Rai
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Venkata Naga Srikanth Garikipati
- Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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22
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Jiao F, Meng L, Du K, Li X. The autophagy-lysosome pathway: a potential target in the chemical and gene therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:139-158. [PMID: 38767483 PMCID: PMC11246151 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease with movement disorders associated with the intracytoplasmic deposition of aggregate proteins such as α-synuclein in neurons. As one of the major intracellular degradation pathways, the autophagy-lysosome pathway plays an important role in eliminating these proteins. Accumulating evidence has shown that upregulation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway may contribute to the clearance of α-synuclein aggregates and protect against degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. Moreover, multiple genes associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease are intimately linked to alterations in the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Thus, this pathway appears to be a promising therapeutic target for treatment of Parkinson's disease. In this review, we briefly introduce the machinery of autophagy. Then, we provide a description of the effects of Parkinson's disease-related genes on the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Finally, we highlight the potential chemical and genetic therapeutic strategies targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway and their applications in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjuan Jiao
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Behavioral Interventions of Mental Disorders, Institute of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingyan Meng
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Kang Du
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xuezhi Li
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Behavioral Interventions of Mental Disorders, Institute of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
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23
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Song W, Chen X, Wu H, Rahimian N. Circular RNAs as a novel class of potential therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers in reproductive biology/diseases. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:643. [PMID: 39741306 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-02230-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 12/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/02/2025] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a prevalent problem among 10% of people within their reproductive years. Sometimes, even advanced treatment options like assisted reproduction technology have the potential to result in failed implantation. Because of the expected changes in gene expression during both in vitro and in vivo fertilization processes, these methods of assisting fertility have also been associated with undesirable pregnancy outcomes related to infertility. In this aspect, Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a crucial role as epigenetic modifiers in a wide range of biological and pathological activities, including problems with fertility. CircRNAs are integral pieces in multiple cellular functions, including moving substances within the nucleus, silencing one X chromosome, cell death, the ability of stem cells to differentiate into different cell types, and the process of gene expression inherited from parental genes. Due to the progress made in high-speed gene sequencing, a large amount of circRNA molecules have been detected, revealing their significant functions in diverse biological functions like enhancing testicular development, preserving the differentiation and renewal of spermatogonial cells, and controlling spermatocyte meiosis. Moreover, these non-coding RNAs contribute in different aspects of female reproductive system including pregnancy-related diseases, gynecologic cancers, and endometriosis. In conclusion, there is no denying that circRNAs have immense potential to be used as biomarkers and treatments for reproductive disorders in males and females. In this research, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the multiple circRNAs associated with women's infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyu Song
- Department of Obstetrics, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
- People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Xiuli Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
- People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Haiying Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China.
- People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China.
| | - Neda Rahimian
- School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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24
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Zharova AMD, Perenkov AD, Vedunova MV. Circular RNAs as multifaceted molecular regulators of vital activity and potential biomarkers of aging. Epigenomics 2024; 16:1465-1475. [PMID: 39589864 PMCID: PMC11622801 DOI: 10.1080/17501911.2024.2430165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 11/06/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging presents a significant challenge to health and social care systems due to the increasing proportion of the elderly population. The identification of reliable biomarkers to assess the progression of aging remains an unresolved question. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded covalently closed RNAs. They have been found to regulate various biological processes. CircRNAs are present in human biological fluids, are relatively stable, and accumulate with age, making them promising as biomarkers of aging. Current information on the expression of circRNAs in aging was analyzed using scientific databases. In this review, we have identified key stages in the study of circRNAs during aging and summarized the current understanding of their biogenesis. By focusing on the role of circRNAs in processes that contribute to aging - such as genomic stability, metabolism, cell death, and signaling pathways - we hypothesize that circRNAs may drive the aging process through their age-related accumulation and resultant deregulation. Examples of age-related differential expression of circRNAs in various species, including humans, are provided. This review highlights the importance of finding novel epigenetic biomarkers of aging, beyond the already identified molecules (circFOXO3, circRNA100783, circPVT1), and highlights circRNAs as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of age-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria D. Zharova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Alexey D. Perenkov
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Maria V. Vedunova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- Biophotonics Center, Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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25
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Hill MC, Simonson B, Roselli C, Xiao L, Herndon CN, Chaffin M, Mantineo H, Atwa O, Bhasin H, Guedira Y, Bedi KC, Margulies KB, Klattenhoff CA, Tucker NR, Ellinor PT. Large-scale single-nuclei profiling identifies role for ATRNL1 in atrial fibrillation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:10002. [PMID: 39562555 PMCID: PMC11576987 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54296-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2024] [Indexed: 11/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in humans, yet the molecular basis of AF remains incompletely understood. To determine the cell type-specific transcriptional changes underlying AF, we perform single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) on left atrial (LA) samples from patients with AF and controls. From more than 175,000 nuclei we find that only cardiomyocytes (CMs) and macrophages (MΦs) have a significant number of differentially expressed genes in patients with AF. Attractin Like 1 (ATRNL1) was overexpressed in CMs among patients with AF and localized to the intercalated disks. Further, in both knockdown and overexpression experiments we identify a potent role for ATRNL1 in cell stress response, and in the modulation of the cardiac action potential. Finally, we detect an unexpected expression pattern for a leading AF candidate gene, KCNN3. In sum, we uncover a role for ATRNL1 which may serve as potential therapeutic target for this common arrhythmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Hill
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bridget Simonson
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Carolina Roselli
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ling Xiao
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caroline N Herndon
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mark Chaffin
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Helene Mantineo
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ondine Atwa
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Harshit Bhasin
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yasmine Guedira
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth C Bedi
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth B Margulies
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Nathan R Tucker
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Patrick T Ellinor
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative & Precision Cardiology Laboratory, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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26
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Hamdy NM, El-Sisi MG, Ibrahim SM, ElNokoudy H, Hady AA, Abd-Ellatef GEF, Sallam AAM, Barakat BM. In silico analysis and comprehensive review of circular-RNA regulatory roles in breast diseases; a step-toward non-coding RNA precision. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 263:155651. [PMID: 39454476 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2024] [Revised: 10/10/2024] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024]
Abstract
In the current comprehensive review, we first highlighted circRNAs, which are key ncRNAs. Next, we discussed the relationships among circRNAs and breast cancer subtypes via in silico databases analysis and extensive literature search. CircRNAs, that sponge miRNA axes or act as silencers of oncogenic mRNAs, have been extensively addressed in the context of this review. During BC pathogenesis, the circRNA/microRNA/messenger RNA (mRNA) axis plays a major role in disease growth, progression, and survival/resistance and could be targeted for improved treatment options. This review also aimed to address oncogenic and tumor suppressor mRNAs, which are regulated by various circRNAs in BC. Moreover, we mentioned the relation of different circRNAs with cancer hallmarks, patient survival together with drug resistance. Additionally, we discussed circRNAs as vaccines and biomarkers in BC. Finally, we studied exosomal circRNAs as a hot interesting area in the research. REVIEW SIGNIFICANCE: Via using in silico databases, bioinformatics analysis, and a thorough literature search to first highlight circRNA as a crucial ncRNA and its biogenesis, and then we explored the connection between circRNA and breast illnesses. In the framework of the review, circRNA sponged-miRNAs axis or as silencers to oncogenic mRNAs were extensively discussed. In the pathophysiology of BC, the circular RNA/microRNA/messenger RNA axis is crucial for the propagation of the disease and resistance that may be targeted for more effective treatment options, in order to confront tumor suppressor and oncogenic mRNAs that are presently regulated by circRNAs in BC. For better patient results, we advised further mechanistic research to elucidate additional ncRNA axis that may be targeted for the therapy of BC and for prognosis/ or early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia M Hamdy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abassia, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
| | - Mona G El-Sisi
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abassia, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Sherine M Ibrahim
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Heba ElNokoudy
- Medication Management & Pharmacy Affairs, Egypt Healthcare Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmad A Hady
- Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Gamal Eldein Fathy Abd-Ellatef
- Therapeutic Chemistry Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Al-Aliaa M Sallam
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abassia, Cairo 11566, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Bassant Mohamed Barakat
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Baha University, Al Baha 1988, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11651, Egypt
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27
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Bakhtiarizade MR, Heidari M, Ghanatghestani AHM. Comprehensive circular RNA profiling in various sheep tissues. Sci Rep 2024; 14:26238. [PMID: 39482374 PMCID: PMC11527890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76940-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 10/17/2024] [Indexed: 11/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the scientific relevance of circular RNAs (circRNAs), the study of these RNAs in non-model organisms, especially in sheep, is still in its infancy. On the other hand, while some studies have focused on sheep circRNA identification in a limited number of tissues, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis that profile circRNA expression patterns across the tissues not yet investigated. In this study, 61 public RNA sequencing datasets from 12 different tissues were uniformly analyzed to identify circRNAs, profile their expression and investigate their various characteristics. We reported for the first time a circRNA expression landscape with functional annotation in sheep tissues not yet investigated including hippocampus, BonMarrowMacrophage, left-ventricle, thymus, ileum, reticulum and 23-day-embryo. A stringent computational pipeline was employed and 8919 exon-derived circRNAs with high confidence were identified, including 88 novel circRNAs. Tissue-specificity analysis revealed that 3059 circRNAs were tissue-specific, which were also more specific to the tissues than linear RNAs. The highest number of tissue-specific circRNAs was found in kidney, hippocampus and thymus, respectively. Co-expression analysis revealed that expression of circRNAs may not be affected by their host genes. While most of the host genes produced more than one isoform, only one isoform had dominant expression across the tissues. The host genes of the tissue-specific circRNAs were significantly enriched in biological/pathways terms linked to the important functions of their corresponding tissues, suggesting potential roles of circRNAs in modulating physiological activity of those tissues. Interestingly, functional terms related to the regulation and various signaling pathways were significantly enriched in all tissues, suggesting some common regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs to modulate the physiological functions of tissues. Finding of the present study provide a valuable resource for depicting the complexity of circRNAs expression across tissues of sheep, which can be useful for the field of sheep genomic and veterinary research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maryam Heidari
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
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28
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He C, Duan L, Zheng H, Wang X, Guan L, Xu J. A Representation Learning Approach for Predicting circRNA Back-Splicing Event via Sequence-Interaction-Aware Dual Encoder. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 2024; 23:603-611. [PMID: 39226209 DOI: 10.1109/tnb.2024.3454079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a crucial role in gene regulation and association with diseases because of their unique closed continuous loop structure, which is more stable and conserved than ordinary linear RNAs. As fundamental work to clarify their functions, a large number of computational approaches for identifying circRNA formation have been proposed. However, these methods fail to fully utilize the important characteristics of back-splicing events, i.e., the positional information of the splice sites and the interaction features of its flanking sequences, for predicting circRNAs. To this end, we hereby propose a novel approach called SIDE for predicting circRNA back-splicing events using only raw RNA sequences. Technically, SIDE employs a dual encoder to capture global and interactive features of the RNA sequence, and then a decoder designed by the contrastive learning to fuse out discriminative features improving the prediction of circRNAs formation. Empirical results on three real-world datasets show the effectiveness of SIDE. Further analysis also reveals that the effectiveness of SIDE.
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29
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Wang Y, Li S, Bo X, Li Y, Wang C, Nan L, Zhang D, Liu H, Zhang J. CircRNome-wide characterisation reveals the promoting role of circAATF in anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy of gallbladder carcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e70060. [PMID: 39428382 PMCID: PMC11491271 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.70060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 09/28/2024] [Accepted: 10/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in tumour development and tumour immunology. However, genome-wide characterisation of circRNAs and their roles in the immunology and immunotherapy of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) has been lacking. We present a comprehensive characterisation of the circRNA landscape in GBC, revealing GBC-specific circRNAs. Our analysis found that circRNAs are significantly enriched in cell proliferation and are involved in cancer-related hallmarks. In particular, circAATF was upregulated in GBC, which was positively correlated with AATF mRNA expression, and promoted GBC cell growth. Through integrating computational and experimental approaches, we revealed that circAATF is positively associated with the CD4+ T cell abundance and PD-L1 level, and enhances the clinical benefits of anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy for GBC. We further demonstrate that circAATF elevates the PD-L1 level by activating phosphorylated AKT and acting as a sponge for miR-142-5p. CircAATF is positively associated with CD4+ T cells and PD-L1 levels and shows potential to aid anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy for GBC. Our study provides insights into roles of circAATF in the tumour development and immunology of GBC and accelerates the development of therapeutic strategies for GBC immunotherapy. HIGHLIGHTS: We present a comprehensive characterisation of circRNA landscape in gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). CircAATF is positively associated with CD4+ T cell abundance and PD-L1 expression and is shown to promote PD-L1 treatment in mouse model. CircAATF can elevate PD-L1 level through phosphorylated AKT and linear AATF, which upregulates PD-L1 by acting as a sponge of miR-142-5p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqi Wang
- Department of Biliary SurgeryZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Biliary Tract Diseases Institute, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Shengli Li
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaobo Bo
- Department of Biliary SurgeryZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Biliary Tract Diseases Institute, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuan Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Changcheng Wang
- Department of Biliary SurgeryZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Biliary Tract Diseases Institute, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lingxi Nan
- Department of Biliary SurgeryZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Biliary Tract Diseases Institute, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Dexiang Zhang
- Department of General SurgeryXuhui District Central Hospital of ShanghaiShanghaiChina
| | - Houbao Liu
- Department of Biliary SurgeryZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Biliary Tract Diseases Institute, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of General SurgeryXuhui District Central Hospital of ShanghaiShanghaiChina
| | - Jiwei Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
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30
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Jiang H, Meng T, Li Z. Role of circular RNAs in preeclampsia (Review). Exp Ther Med 2024; 28:372. [PMID: 39091629 PMCID: PMC11292168 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation, which affects 3-8% of pregnant individuals worldwide each year. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of PE are some of the most important problems faced by obstetrics. There is growing evidence that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of PE. The present review summarizes the research progress of circRNAs and then describes the expression patterns of circRNAs in PE and their functional mechanisms affecting PE development. The role of circRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of PE, and the research status of circRNAs in PE are summarized in the hope of finding novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengxue Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Tao Meng
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Ziwei Li
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
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31
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Xu S, Chen T, Yu J, Wan L, Zhang J, Chen J, Wei W, Li X. Insights into the regulatory role of epigenetics in moyamoya disease: Current advances and future prospectives. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102281. [PMID: 39188306 PMCID: PMC11345382 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a progressive steno-occlusive cerebrovascular disorder that predominantly affecting East Asian populations. The intricate interplay of distinct and overlapping mechanisms, including genetic associations such as the RNF213-p.R4810K variant, contributes to the steno-occlusive lesions and moyamoya vessels. However, genetic mutations alone do not fully elucidate the occurrence of MMD, suggesting a potential role for epigenetic factors. Accruing evidence has unveiled the regulatory role of epigenetic markers, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), in regulating pivotal cellular and molecular processes implicated in the pathogenesis of MMD by modulating endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The profile of these epigenetic markers in cerebral vasculatures and circulation has been determined to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Furthermore, in vitro studies have demonstrated the multifaceted effects of modulating specific epigenetic markers on MMD pathogenesis. These findings hold great potential for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, translational studies, and clinical applications. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the current understanding of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and ncRNAs, in the context of MMD. Furthermore, we discuss the potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangxiang Xu
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Tongyu Chen
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jin Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lei Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jianjian Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jincao Chen
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Sino-Italian Ascula Brain Science Joint Laboratory, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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32
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Farhadi E, Khomeijani-Farahani M, Nikbakhsh R, Azizan A, Soltani S, Barekati H, Mahmoudi M. The potential role of circular RNAs in regulating p53 in different types of cancers. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 261:155488. [PMID: 39088876 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
P53 tumor suppressor is a major regulator of various cellular processes and functions. It has been reported that mutation or inactivation of p53 plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis in different types of cancers. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded non-coding RNAs that have significant post-transcriptional effects on the regulation of gene expression in various ways. These molecules can alter the expression and function of multiple genes and proteins. In the present study, we aimed to review circRNAs that regulate the expression, function, and stability of p53 and the possible interactions between these molecules and p53. Considering the importance of p53 in cancer and the network between p53 and circRNAs, future clinical trials targeting these circRNAs as therapeutic agents deserve worthy of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Farhadi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammadreza Khomeijani-Farahani
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rambod Nikbakhsh
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Azizan
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Soltani
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Barekati
- School of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Yang P, Li X, Liu C, Han Y, E G, Huang Y. Role and Regulatory Mechanism of circRNA_14820 in the Proliferation and Differentiation of Goat Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8900. [PMID: 39201586 PMCID: PMC11354305 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs), a type of myogenic stem cell, play a pivotal role in postnatal muscle regeneration and repair in animals. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a distinct class of non-coding RNA molecules capable of regulating muscle development by modulating gene expression, acting as microRNAs, or serving as protein decoys. In this study, we identified circ_14820, an exonic transcript derived from adenosine triphosphatase family protein 2 (ATAD2), through initial RNA-Seq analysis. Importantly, overexpression of circ_14820 markedly enhanced the proliferation of goat SMSCs while concomitantly suppressing their differentiation. Moreover, circ_14820 exhibited predominant localization in the cytoplasm of SMSCs. Subsequent small RNA and mRNA sequencing of circ_14820-overexpressing SMSCs systematically elucidated the molecular regulatory mechanisms associated with circ_14820. Our preliminary findings suggest that the circ_14820-miR-206-CCND2 regulatory axis may govern the development of goat SMSCs. These discoveries contribute to a deeper understanding of circRNA-mediated mechanisms in regulating skeletal muscle development, thereby advancing our knowledge of muscle biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yongfu Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (P.Y.); (X.L.); (C.L.); (Y.H.); (G.E.)
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Jabeen S, Ahmed N, Rashid F, Lal N, Kong F, Fu Y, Zhang F. Circular RNAs in tuberculosis and lung cancer. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 561:119810. [PMID: 38866175 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
This review signifies the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer (LC), focusing on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. CircRNAs, a newly discovered type of non-coding RNA, have emerged as key regulators of gene expression and promising biomarkers in various bodily fluids due to their stability. The current review discusses circRNA biogenesis, highlighting their RNase-R resistance due to their loop forming structure, making them effective biomarkers. It details their roles in gene regulation, including splicing, transcription control, and miRNA interactions, and their impact on cellular processes and diseases. For LC, the review identifies circRNA dysregulation affecting cell growth, motility, and survival, and their potential as therapeutic targets and biomarkers. In TB, it addresses circRNAs' influence on host anti-TB immune responses, proposing their use as early diagnostic markers. The paper also explores the interplay between TB and LC, emphasizing circRNAs as dual biosignatures, and the necessity for differential diagnosis. It concludes that no single circRNA biomarker is universally applicable for both TB and LC. Ultimately, the review highlights the pivotal role of circRNAs in TB and LC, encouraging further research in biomarker identification and therapeutic development concomitant for both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Jabeen
- Department of Microbiology, Wu Lien Teh Institute, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Niaz Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Wu Lien Teh Institute, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Faiqa Rashid
- Department of Bioinformatics And Biosciences, Capital University Of Science & Technology, Islamabad Expressway, Kahuta Road, Zone-V, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Nand Lal
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Fanhui Kong
- Department of Microbiology, Wu Lien Teh Institute, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yingmei Fu
- Department of Microbiology, Wu Lien Teh Institute, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Fengmin Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Wu Lien Teh Institute, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Harbin 150081, China.
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35
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Gonzales LR, Blom S, Henriques R, Bachem CWB, Immink RGH. LncRNAs: the art of being influential without protein. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:770-785. [PMID: 38368122 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The plant long noncoding (lnc)RNA field is on the brink of transitioning from large-scale identification of lncRNAs to their functional characterization. Due to the cross-kingdom conservation of interaction types and molecular functions, there is much to be learned from mammalian lncRNA research. Here, we discuss the different molecular processes involving lncRNAs from the regulation of chromatin to splicing. Furthermore, we discuss the lncRNA interactome, which includes proteins, other RNAs, and DNA. We explore and discuss how mammalian lncRNA functionalities could be reflected in similar pathways in plants and hypothesize that several breakthroughs in mammalian research could lead to the discovery of novel plant lncRNA molecular functions. Expanding our knowledge of the biological role of lncRNAs and their multiple applications paves the way for future agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suze Blom
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Bioscience, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rossana Henriques
- School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Christian W B Bachem
- Plant Breeding, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Richard G H Immink
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Bioscience, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Wen K, Chen X, Gu J, Chen Z, Wang Z. Beyond traditional translation: ncRNA derived peptides as modulators of tumor behaviors. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:63. [PMID: 38877495 PMCID: PMC11177406 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01047-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the intricate tapestry of molecular research, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) were historically overshadowed by a pervasive presumption of their inability to encode proteins or peptides. However, groundbreaking revelations have challenged this notion, unveiling select ncRNAs that surprisingly encode peptides specifically those nearing a succinct 100 amino acids. At the forefront of this epiphany stand lncRNAs and circRNAs, distinctively characterized by their embedded small open reading frames (sORFs). Increasing evidence has revealed different functions and mechanisms of peptides/proteins encoded by ncRNAs in cancer, including promotion or inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, cellular metabolism (glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism), and promotion or concerted metastasis of cancer cells. The discoveries not only accentuate the depth of ncRNA functionality but also open novel avenues for oncological research and therapeutic innovations. The main difficulties in the study of these ncRNA-derived peptides hinge crucially on precise peptide detection and sORFs identification. Here, we illuminate cutting-edge methodologies, essential instrumentation, and dedicated databases tailored for unearthing sORFs and peptides. In addition, we also conclude the potential of clinical applications in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wen
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210011, P.R. China
| | - Xin Chen
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210011, P.R. China
| | - Jingyao Gu
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210011, P.R. China
| | - Zhenyao Chen
- Department of Respiratory Endoscopy, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, P.R. China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210011, P.R. China.
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Yang S, Cao D, Jaijyan DK, Wang M, Liu J, Cruz-Cosme R, Wu S, Huang J, Zeng M, Liu X, Sun W, Xiong D, Tang Q, Xiao L, Zhu H. Identification and characterization of Varicella Zoster Virus circular RNA in lytic infection. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4932. [PMID: 38858365 PMCID: PMC11164961 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49112-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the context of Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) lytic infection. We employ two sequencing technologies, short-read sequencing and long-read sequencing, following RNase R treatment on VZV-infected neuroblastoma cells to identify and characterize both cellular and viral circRNAs. Our large scanning analysis identifies and subsequent experiments confirm 200 VZV circRNAs. Moreover, we discover numerous VZV latency-associated transcripts (VLTs)-like circRNAs (circVLTslytic), which contain multiple exons and different isoforms within the same back-splicing breakpoint. To understand the functional significance of these circVLTslytic, we utilize the Bacteria Artificial Chromosome system to disrupt the expression of viral circRNAs in genomic DNA location. We reveal that the sequence flanking circVLTs' 5' splice donor plays a pivotal role as a cis-acting element in the formation of circVLTslytic. The circVLTslytic is dispensable for VZV replication, but the mutation downstream of circVLTslytic exon 5 leads to increased acyclovir sensitivity in VZV infection models. This suggests that circVLTslytic may have a role in modulating the sensitivity to antiviral treatment. The findings shed new insight into the regulation of cellular and viral transcription during VZV lytic infection, emphasizing the intricate interplay between circRNAs and viral processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaomin Yang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Di Cao
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dabbu Kumar Jaijyan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ, 070101, USA
| | - Mei Wang
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - Jian Liu
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, 363000, China
| | - Ruth Cruz-Cosme
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W Street NW, Washington, DC, 20059, USA
| | - Songbin Wu
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiabin Huang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mulan Zeng
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ, 070101, USA
| | - Xiaolian Liu
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - Wuping Sun
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Donglin Xiong
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiyi Tang
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W Street NW, Washington, DC, 20059, USA.
| | - Lizu Xiao
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ, 070101, USA.
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Yan J, Wang X, Fan Z, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Guo L, Liu D. Circ_0098823 binding with IGF2BP3 regulates DNM1L stability to promote metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via mitochondrial fission. Apoptosis 2024; 29:709-725. [PMID: 38459420 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-023-01903-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly metastatic and invasive. CircRNA participates in gene regulation of multiple tumor metastases, but little is known whether it is a bystander or an actual player in HCC metastasis. We aim to explore the molecular mechanisms of novel circRNAs in HCC metastasis. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of 13 circRNAs derived by the ERBB3 gene. The function of circ_0098823 and DNM1L in HCC cells were estimated by CCK-8, transwell assays, flow cytometry, electron microscope, and in vivo experiments. RNA binding protein of circ_0098823 was confirmed by RNA pull-down, mass spectrometry, and RNA immunoprecipitation. The expression of DNM1L after IGF2BP3 knockdown was detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. Circ_0098823 was significantly up-regulated both in HCC tissues and HGF induced cell lines. Circ_0098823 overexpression significantly enhanced proliferation, migration, and invasion but decreased apoptosis of HCC cells, particularly promoted mitochondrial fission. Compared with the control group, the tumors in the circ_0098823 knockdown mice were significantly smaller and lighter. Circ_0098823 silencing suppressed DNM1L expression, a key molecule for fission, which enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibited apoptosis of HCC cell. IGF2BP3 was a binding protein of circ_0098823. The expression and mRNA stability of DNM1L were down-regulated by IGF2BP3 knockdown. IGF2BP3 knockdown significantly alleviated the excessive migration, invasion and apoptosis of HCC cells caused by circ_0098823 overexpression. This study uncovered a novel circ_0098823 with tumor-promoting effect, and the mechanism by which circ_0098823 participates in HCC progression through IGF2BP3-guided DNM1L. Our study broadens molecular understanding of HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuliang Yan
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Zongyu Fan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yiqing Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.85, Wujin Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yingzi Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.85, Wujin Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.85, Wujin Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Dongli Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.85, Wujin Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China.
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Choi SW, Nam JW. Optimal design of synthetic circular RNAs. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:1281-1292. [PMID: 38871815 PMCID: PMC11263348 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01251-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs are an unusual class of single-stranded RNAs whose ends are covalently linked via back-splicing. Due to their versatility, the need to express circular RNAs in vivo and in vitro has increased. Efforts have been made to efficiently and precisely synthesize circular RNAs. However, a review on the optimization of the processes of circular RNA design, synthesis, and delivery is lacking. Our review highlights the multifaceted aspects considered when producing optimal circular RNAs and summarizes the available options for each step of exogenous circular RNA design and synthesis, including circularization strategies. Additionally, this review describes several potential applications of circular RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo-Won Choi
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Wu Nam
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
- Bio-BigData Center, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
- Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
- Hanyang Institute of Advanced BioConvergence, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
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40
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Shi Y, Shen F, Chen X, Sun M, Zhang P. Current understanding of circular RNAs in preeclampsia. Hypertens Res 2024; 47:1607-1619. [PMID: 38605141 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-024-01675-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a multiple organ and system disease that seriously threatens the safety of the mother and infant during pregnancy, and has a profound impact on the morbidity and mortality of the mother and new babies. Presently, there are no remedies for cure of PE as to the mechanisms of PE are still unclear, and the only way to eliminate the symptoms is to deliver the placenta. Thus, new therapeutic targets for PE are urgently needed. Approximately 95% of human transcripts are thought to be non-coding RNAs, and the roles of them are to be increasingly recognized of great importance in various biological processes. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs, with no 5' caps and 3' polyadenylated tails, commonly produced by back-splicing of exons. The structure of circRNAs makes them more stable than their counterparts. Increasing evidence shows that circRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of PE, but the biogenesis, functions, and mechanisms of circRNAs in PE are poorly understood. In the present review, we mainly summarize the biogenesis, functions, and possible mechanisms of circRNAs in the development and progression of PE, as well as opportunities and challenges in the treatment and prevention of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Shi
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fangrong Shen
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xionghui Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- Institute of Trauma Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center of Trauma Medicine, Suzhou, China.
| | - Miao Sun
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Pengjie Zhang
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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41
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Digby B, Finn S, Ó Broin P. Computational approaches and challenges in the analysis of circRNA data. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:527. [PMID: 38807085 PMCID: PMC11134749 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10420-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNA) are a class of non-coding RNA, forming a single-stranded covalently closed loop structure generated via back-splicing. Advancements in sequencing methods and technologies in conjunction with algorithmic developments of bioinformatics tools have enabled researchers to characterise the origin and function of circRNAs, with practical applications as a biomarker of diseases becoming increasingly relevant. Computational methods developed for circRNA analysis are predicated on detecting the chimeric back-splice junction of circRNAs whilst mitigating false-positive sequencing artefacts. In this review, we discuss in detail the computational strategies developed for circRNA identification, highlighting a selection of tool strengths, weaknesses and assumptions. In addition to circRNA identification tools, we describe methods for characterising the role of circRNAs within the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, their interactions with RNA-binding proteins, and publicly available databases for rich circRNA annotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry Digby
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Stephen Finn
- Discipline of Histopathology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin and Cancer Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pilib Ó Broin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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42
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Sun X, Zhao X, Xu Y, Yan Y, Han L, Wei M, He M. Potential therapeutic strategy for cancer: Multi-dimensional cross-talk between circRNAs and parental genes. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216794. [PMID: 38453043 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
In many ways, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to be crucial in the onset and advancement of cancer throughout the last ten years and have become a new focus of intense research in the field of RNAs. Accumulating studies have demonstrated that circRNAs can regulate parental gene expression via a variety of biological pathways. Furthermore, research into the complex interactions between circRNAs and their parental genes will shed light on their biological roles and open up new avenues for circRNAs' potential clinical translational uses. However, to date, multi-dimensional cross-talk between circRNAs and parental genes have not been systematically elucidated. Particularly intriguing is circRNA's exploration of tumor targeting, and potential therapeutic uses based on the parental gene regulation perspective. Here, we discuss their biogenesis, take a fresh look at the molecular mechanisms through which circRNAs control the expression of their parental genes in cancer. We further highlight We further highlight the latest circRNA clinical translational applications, including prognostic diagnostic markers, cancer vaccines, gDNA, and so on. Demonstrating the potential benefits and future applications of circRNA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, Liaoning Cancer Immune Peptide Drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Shenyang, China.
| | - Xinyi Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, Liaoning Cancer Immune Peptide Drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Shenyang, China.
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, Liaoning Cancer Immune Peptide Drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Shenyang, China.
| | - Li Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, Liaoning Cancer Immune Peptide Drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Shenyang, China.
| | - Minjie Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, Liaoning Cancer Immune Peptide Drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Shenyang, China; Liaoning Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Miao He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Anti-Tumor Drug Development and Evaluation, Liaoning Cancer Immune Peptide Drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Shenyang, China.
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43
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Zhong Y, Yang Y, Wang X, Ren B, Wang X, Shan G, Chen L. Systematic identification and characterization of exon-intron circRNAs. Genome Res 2024; 34:376-393. [PMID: 38609186 PMCID: PMC11067877 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278590.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Exon-intron circRNAs (EIciRNAs) are a circRNA subclass with retained introns. Global features of EIciRNAs remain largely unexplored, mainly owing to the lack of bioinformatic tools. The regulation of intron retention (IR) in EIciRNAs and the associated functionality also require further investigation. We developed a framework, FEICP, which efficiently detected EIciRNAs from high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data. EIciRNAs are distinct from exonic circRNAs (EcircRNAs) in aspects such as with larger length, localization in the nucleus, high tissue specificity, and enrichment mostly in the brain. Deep learning analyses revealed that compared with regular introns, the retained introns of circRNAs (CIRs) are shorter in length, have weaker splice site strength, and have higher GC content. Compared with retained introns in linear RNAs (LIRs), CIRs are more likely to form secondary structures and show greater sequence conservation. CIRs are closer to the 5'-end, whereas LIRs are closer to the 3'-end of transcripts. EIciRNA-generating genes are more actively transcribed and associated with epigenetic marks of gene activation. Computational analyses and genome-wide CRISPR screening revealed that SRSF1 binds to CIRs and inhibits the biogenesis of most EIciRNAs. SRSF1 regulates the biogenesis of EIciLIMK1, which enhances the expression of LIMK1 in cis to boost neuronal differentiation, exemplifying EIciRNA physiological function. Overall, our study has developed the FEICP pipeline to identify EIciRNAs from HTS data, and reveals multiple features of CIRs and EIciRNAs. SRSF1 has been identified to regulate EIciRNA biogenesis. EIciRNAs and the regulation of EIciRNA biogenesis play critical roles in neuronal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinchun Zhong
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Bingbing Ren
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Xueren Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan 030032, China;
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ge Shan
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China;
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
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Wang C, Wang Q, Xu G, Sun Z, Zhang D, Ma C, Li Y, Wen D, Zhang X, Cong B. Circular RNA expression profiles and functional predication after restraint stress in the amygdala of rats. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1381098. [PMID: 38685915 PMCID: PMC11056511 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1381098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Prolonged or repeated exposure to stress elevates the risk of various psychological diseases, many of which are characterized by central nervous system dysfunction. Recent studies have demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly abundant in the mammalian brain. Although their precise expression and function remain unknown, they have been hypothesized to regulate transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression. In this investigation, we comprehensively analyzed whether restraint stress for 2 days altered the circRNA expression profile in the amygdala of male rats. The impact of restraint stress on behavior was evaluated using an elevated plus maze and open field test. Serum corticosterone levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 10,670 circRNAs were identified using RNA sequencing. Ten circRNAs were validated by reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analyzes supported the notion that genes associated with differentially expressed circRNAs are primarily implicated in neuronal activity and neurotransmitter transport. Moreover, the three differentially expressed circRNAs showed high specificity in the amygdala. Overall, these findings indicate that differentially expressed circRNAs are highly enriched in the amygdala and offer a potential direction for further research on restraint stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Wang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Guangming Xu
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Forensic Medicine, The National Police University for Criminal Justice, Baoding, China
| | - Zhaoling Sun
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chunling Ma
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yingmin Li
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Di Wen
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaojing Zhang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bin Cong
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hainan Tropical Forensic Medicine Academician Workstation, Haikou, China
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Xiao F, He Z, Wang S, Li J, Fan X, Yan T, Yang M, Yang D. Regulatory mechanism of circular RNAs in neurodegenerative diseases. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14499. [PMID: 37864389 PMCID: PMC11017410 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative disease is a collective term for a category of diseases that are caused by neuronal dysfunction, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs without the 3' cap and 5' poly(A) and are linked by covalent bonds. CircRNAs are highly expressed in brain neurons and can regulate the pathological process of neurodegenerative diseases by affecting the levels of various deposition proteins. AIMS This review is aiming to suggest that the majority of circRNAs influence neurodegenerative pathologies mainly by affecting the abnormal deposition of proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS We systematically summarized the pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases and the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in various types of neurodegenerative diseases. RESULTS Neurodegenerative disease main features include intercellular ubiquitin-proteasome system abnormalities, changes in cytoskeletal proteins, and the continuous deposition of insoluble protein fragments and inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm or nucleus, resulting in impairment of the normal physiological processes of the neuronal system. CircRNAs have multiple mechanisms, such as acting as microRNA sponges, binding to proteins, and regulating transcription. CircRNAs, which are highly stable molecules, are expected to be potential biomarkers for the pathological detection of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD. CONCLUSIONS In this review, we describe the regulatory roles and mechanisms of circRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases and aim to employ circRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xiao
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhi He
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Siqi Wang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Jiamei Li
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiaolan Fan
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Taiming Yan
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Mingyao Yang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Deying Yang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
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Chen XL, Tan QD, Chen KJ, Zheng DN, Deng HW, He S, Mao FK, Hao JL, Le WD, Yang J. CircRNA and Stroke: New Insight of Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:557-567. [PMID: 38063946 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-04077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Stroke, the second-largest cause of death and the leading cause of disability globally, presents significant challenges in terms of prognosis and treatment. Identifying reliable prognosis biomarkers and treatment targets is crucial to address these challenges. Circular RNA (circRNA) has emerged as a promising research biomarkers and therapeutic targets because of its tissue specificity and conservation. However, the potential role of circRNA in stroke prognosis and treatment remains largely unexplored. This review briefly elucidate the mechanism underlying circRNA's involvement in stroke pathophysiology. Additionally, this review summarizes the impact of circRNA on different forms of strokes, including ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. And, this article discusses the positive effects of circRNA on promoting cerebrovascular repair and regeneration, maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and reducing neuronal injury and immune inflammatory response. In conclusion, the significance of circRNA as a potential prognostic biomarker and a viable therapeutic target was underscored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ling Chen
- School of Clinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Quan-Dan Tan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610072, China9, China
| | - Ke-Jie Chen
- School of Public Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Dan-Ni Zheng
- Brain Health Initiative, The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2025, Australia
| | - Hong-Wei Deng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610072, China9, China
| | - Song He
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610072, China9, China
| | - Feng-Kai Mao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610072, China9, China
| | - Jun-Li Hao
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Wei-Dong Le
- Institute of Neurology, School of Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Jie Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610072, China.
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Ngo LH, Bert AG, Dredge BK, Williams T, Murphy V, Li W, Hamilton WB, Carey KT, Toubia J, Pillman KA, Liu D, Desogus J, Chao JA, Deans AJ, Goodall GJ, Wickramasinghe VO. Nuclear export of circular RNA. Nature 2024; 627:212-220. [PMID: 38355801 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07060-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are increasingly being implicated in a variety of functions in normal and cancerous cells1-5, are formed by back-splicing of precursor mRNAs in the nucleus6-10. circRNAs are predominantly localized in the cytoplasm, indicating that they must be exported from the nucleus. Here we identify a pathway that is specific for the nuclear export of circular RNA. This pathway requires Ran-GTP, exportin-2 and IGF2BP1. Enhancing the nuclear Ran-GTP gradient by depletion or chemical inhibition of the major protein exporter CRM1 selectively increases the nuclear export of circRNAs, while reducing the nuclear Ran-GTP gradient selectively blocks circRNA export. Depletion or knockout of exportin-2 specifically inhibits nuclear export of circRNA. Analysis of nuclear circRNA-binding proteins reveals that interaction between IGF2BP1 and circRNA is enhanced by Ran-GTP. The formation of circRNA export complexes in the nucleus is promoted by Ran-GTP through its interactions with exportin-2, circRNA and IGF2BP1. Our findings demonstrate that adaptors such as IGF2BP1 that bind directly to circular RNAs recruit Ran-GTP and exportin-2 to export circRNAs in a mechanism that is analogous to protein export, rather than mRNA export.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh H Ngo
- RNA Biology and Cancer Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew G Bert
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - B Kate Dredge
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics, School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tobias Williams
- RNA Biology and Cancer Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Murphy
- Genome Stability Unit, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wanqiu Li
- RNA Biology and Cancer Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, School of Medicine and Institute for Biological Electron Microscopy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - William B Hamilton
- RNA Biology and Cancer Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kirstyn T Carey
- RNA Biology and Cancer Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Toubia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Katherine A Pillman
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dawei Liu
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jessica Desogus
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jeffrey A Chao
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew J Deans
- Genome Stability Unit, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gregory J Goodall
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Vihandha O Wickramasinghe
- RNA Biology and Cancer Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Son S, Jeong H, Lee G, Park JH, Yoo S. Biogenesis of circular RNAs in vitro and in vivo from the Drosophila Nk2.1 / scarecrow gene. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.26.582126. [PMID: 38463984 PMCID: PMC10925093 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.26.582126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
scarecrow ( scro ) encodes a fly homolog of mammalian Nkx2.1 that is vital for early fly development as well as for optic lobe development. Interestingly, scro was reported to produce a circular RNA (circRNA). In this study, we identified 12 different scro circRNAs, which are either mono- or multi-exonic forms. The most abundant forms are circE2 carrying the second exon only and bi-exonic circE3-E4. Levels of circE2 show an age-dependent increase in adult heads, supporting a general trend of high accumulation of circRNAs in aged fly brains. Aligning sequences of introns flanking exons uncovered two pairs of intronic complementary sequences (ICSs); one pair residing in introns 1 and 2 and the other in introns 2 and 4. The first pair was demonstrated to be essential for the circE2 production in cell-based assays; furthermore, deletion of the region including potential ICS components in the intron-2 reduced in vivo production of circE2 and circE3-E4 by 80%, indicating them to be essential for the biogenesis of these isoforms. Besides the ICS, the intron regions immediately abutting exons seemed to be responsible for a basal level of circRNA formation. Moreover, the replacement of scro -ICS with those derived from laccase2 was comparably effective in scro -circRNA production, buttressing the importance of the hairpin-loop structure formed by ICS for the biogenesis of circRNA. Lastly, overexpressed scro affected outcomes of both linear and circular RNAs from the endogenous scro locus, suggesting that Scro plays a direct or indirect role in regulating expression levels of either or both forms.
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Saleem A, Khan MU, Zahid T, Khurram I, Ghani MU, Ullah I, Munir R, Calina D, Sharifi-Rad J. Biological role and regulation of circular RNA as an emerging biomarker and potential therapeutic target for cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:296. [PMID: 38340202 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09211-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a unique family of endogenous RNAs devoid of 3' poly-A tails and 5' end caps. These single-stranded circRNAs, found in the cytoplasm, are synthesized via back-splicing mechanisms, merging introns, exons, or both, resulting in covalently closed circular loops. They are profusely expressed across the eukaryotic transcriptome and offer heightened stability against exonuclease RNase R compared to linear RNA counterparts. This review endeavors to provide a comprehensive overview of circRNAs' characteristics, biogenesis, and mechanisms of action. Furthermore, aimed to shed light on the potential of circRNAs as significant biomarkers in various cancer types. It has been performed an exhaustive literature review, drawing on recent studies and findings related to circRNA characteristics, synthesis, function, evaluation techniques, and their associations with oncogenesis. CircRNAs are intricately associated with tumor progression and development. Their multifaceted roles encompass gene regulation through the sponging of proteins and microRNAs, controlling transcription and splicing, interacting with RNA binding proteins (RBPs), and facilitating gene translation. Due to these varied roles, circRNAs have become a focal point in tumor pathology investigations, given their promising potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic agents. CircRNAs, due to their unique biogenesis and multifunctionality, hold immense promise in the realm of oncology. Their stability, widespread expression, and intricate involvement in gene regulation underscore their prospective utility as reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. As our understanding of circRNAs deepens, advanced techniques for their detection, evaluation, and manipulation will likely emerge. These advancements might catalyze the translation of circRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics into clinical practice, potentially revolutionizing cancer care and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Saleem
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Umer Khan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Tazeen Zahid
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Iqra Khurram
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Usman Ghani
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Inam Ullah
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Rakhtasha Munir
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Daniela Calina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349, Craiova, Romania.
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Zhou M, Li S, Huang C. Physiological and pathological functions of circular RNAs in the nervous system. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:342-349. [PMID: 37488888 PMCID: PMC10503630 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.379017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of covalently closed single-stranded RNAs that are expressed during the development of specific cells and tissues. CircRNAs play crucial roles in physiological and pathological processes by sponging microRNAs, modulating gene transcription, controlling the activity of certain RNA-binding proteins, and producing functional peptides. A key focus of research at present is the functionality of circRNAs in the nervous system and several advances have emerged over the last 2 years. However, the precise role of circRNAs in the nervous system has yet to be comprehensively reviewed. In this review, we first summarize the recently described roles of circRNAs in brain development, maturity, and aging. Then, we focus on the involvement of circRNAs in various diseases of the central nervous system, such as brain cancer, chronic neurodegenerative diseases, acute injuries of the nervous system, and neuropathic pain. A better understanding of the functionality of circRNAs will help us to develop potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies to treat diseases of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shi Li
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chuan Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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