scholarly journals circRNAs Signature as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Diabetes Mellitus and Related Cardiovascular Complications

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Zaiou

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) belong to the ever-growing class of naturally occurring noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) molecules. Unlike linear RNA, circRNAs are covalently closed transcripts mostly generated from precursor-mRNA by a non-canonical event called back-splicing. They are highly stable, evolutionarily conserved, and widely distributed in eukaryotes. Some circRNAs are believed to fulfill a variety of functions inside the cell mainly by acting as microRNAs (miRNAs) or RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) sponges. Furthermore, mounting evidence suggests that the misregulation of circRNAs is among the first alterations in various metabolic disorders including obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. More recent research has revealed that circRNAs also play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and related vascular complications. These findings have added a new layer of complexity to our understanding of DM and underscored the need to reexamine the molecular pathways that lead to this disorder in the context of epigenetics and circRNA regulatory mechanisms. Here, I review current knowledge about circRNAs dysregulation in diabetes and describe their potential role as innovative biomarkers to predict diabetes-related cardiovascular (CV) events. Finally, I discuss some of the actual limitations to the promise of these RNA transcripts as emerging therapeutics and provide recommendations for future research on circRNA-based medicine.

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1473
Author(s):  
Mohamed Zaiou

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are genome transcripts that are produced from back-splicing of specific regions of pre-mRNA. These single-stranded RNA molecules are widely expressed across diverse phyla and many of them are stable and evolutionary conserved between species. Growing evidence suggests that many circRNAs function as master regulators of gene expression by influencing both transcription and translation processes. Mechanistically, circRNAs are predicted to act as endogenous microRNA (miRNA) sponges, interact with functional RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and associate with elements of the transcriptional machinery in the nucleus. Evidence is mounting that dysregulation of circRNAs is closely related to the occurrence of a range of diseases including cancer and metabolic diseases. Indeed, there are several reports implicating circRNAs in cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. However, there is very little research addressing the potential role of these RNA transcripts in the occurrence and development of obesity. Emerging data from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that circRNAs are novel players in adipogenesis, white adipose browning, obesity, obesity-induced inflammation, and insulin resistance. This study explores the current state of knowledge on circRNAs regulating molecular processes associated with adipogenesis and obesity, highlights some of the challenges encountered while studying circRNAs and suggests some perspectives for future research directions in this exciting field of study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 4385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Czubak ◽  
Saam Sedehizadeh ◽  
Piotr Kozlowski ◽  
Marzena Wojciechowska

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded covalently closed RNA rings. Biogenesis of circRNAs, which may occur co-transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally via a back-splicing mechanism, requires the presence of complementary and/or inverted repeat sequences in introns flanking back-spliced exons and is facilitated by RNA-binding proteins. CircRNAs are abundant across eukaryotes; however, their biological functions remain largely speculative. Recently, they have been emerging as new members of a gene regulatory network and contributing factors in various human diseases including cancer, neurological, muscular and cardiovascular disorders. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge about circRNAs biogenesis and their aberrant expression in various human disorders. In particular, we focus on the latest discovery of circRNAs global upregulation in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) skeletal muscles and the role these prospective biomarkers might have for prognosis and therapeutic response in DM1.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 157-167
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Zahra Bakhti ◽  
Sana Dadashi ◽  
Anahita Dah Pahlevan ◽  
Fatemeh Kafshresan

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a complicated class of non-coding RNAs that have a covalently closed loop structure and are very stable and cautious. Multiple biological processes of malignancy, including tumorigenesis, development, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and vascularization, are disrupted by an increased number of circRNAs. Recent research has showed that circRNAs, functioning as microRNA (miRNA) sponges or protein scaffolds, interacting with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and autophagy regulators, affect the transcription and splicing regulation. Many circRNAs have tissue-specific expression patterns and are heavily conserved. CircRNA levels in neurons are dynamically modulated. Growing evidence suggests that circRNAs are highly abundant in neural tissues, perhaps owing to the proliferation of particular genes that promote circularization, implying that circRNA dysregulation is linked to nervous system disorders including glioma. The most widespread and deadly primary malignant brain tumor is glioma. CircRNA has a close connection to glioma, according to reported research. Here, the current knowledge about the properties of circRNAs is introduced and the biological and molecular functions of circRNAs are described. Then, the clinical association of circRNAs with glioma/glioblastoma and their level of expression and their regulatory mechanisms in tumorigenesis are discussed. Moreover, the potential of circRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and predictors of brain cancer risk and possible therapeutic targets in medicine is examined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7477
Author(s):  
Rok Razpotnik ◽  
Petra Nassib ◽  
Tanja Kunej ◽  
Damjana Rozman ◽  
Tadeja Režen

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly recognized as having a role in cancer development. Their expression is modified in numerous cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, little is known about the mechanisms of their regulation. The aim of this study was to identify regulators of circRNAome expression in HCC. Using publicly available datasets, we identified RNA binding proteins (RBPs) with enriched motifs around the splice sites of differentially expressed circRNAs in HCC. We confirmed the binding of some of the candidate RBPs using ChIP-seq and eCLIP datasets in the ENCODE database. Several of the identified RBPs were found to be differentially expressed in HCC and/or correlated with the overall survival of HCC patients. According to our bioinformatics analyses and published evidence, we propose that NONO, PCPB2, PCPB1, ESRP2, and HNRNPK are candidate regulators of circRNA expression in HCC. We confirmed that the knocking down the epithelial splicing regulatory protein 2 (ESRP2), known to be involved in the maintenance of the adult liver phenotype, significantly changed the expression of candidate circRNAs in a model HCC cell line. By understanding the systemic changes in transcriptome splicing, we can identify new proteins involved in the molecular pathways leading to HCC development and progression.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basma Basha ◽  
Samson Mathews Samuel ◽  
Chris R. Triggle ◽  
Hong Ding

The vascular complications of diabetes mellitus impose a huge burden on the management of this disease. The higher incidence of cardiovascular complications and the unfavorable prognosis among diabetic individuals who develop such complications have been correlated to the hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and associated endothelial dysfunction. Although antioxidants may be considered as effective therapeutic agents to relieve oxidative stress and protect the endothelium, recent clinical trials involving these agents have shown limited therapeutic efficacy in this regard. In the recent past experimental evidence suggest that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the endothelial cells might be an important contributor to diabetes-related vascular complications. The current paper contemplates the possibility of the involvement of ER stress in endothelial dysfunction and diabetes-associated vascular complications.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Ignazio Restivo ◽  
Alessandro Attanzio ◽  
Luisa Tesoriere ◽  
Mario Allegra

Eryptosis is a coordinated, programmed cell death culminating with the disposal of cells without disruption of the cell membrane and the release of endocellular oxidative and pro-inflammatory milieu. While providing a convenient form of death for erythrocytes, dysregulated eryptosis may result in a series of detrimental and harmful pathological consequences highly related to the endothelial dysfunction (ED). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is described as a cluster of cardiometabolic factors (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) that increases the risk of cardiovascular complications such as those related to diabetes and atherosclerosis. In the light of the crucial role exerted by the eryptotic process in the ED, the focus of the present review is to report and discuss the involvement of eryptosis within MetS, where vascular complications are utterly relevant. Current knowledge on the mechanisms leading to eryptosis in MetS-related conditions (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) will be analyzed. Moreover, clinical evidence supporting or proposing a role for eryptosis in the ED, associated to MetS cardiovascular complications, will be discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Long ◽  
Zhi Lin ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Min Ma ◽  
Zhixing Lu ◽  
...  

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is a common hereditary tumor that is often fatal. Its pathogenesis involves multiple genes, including circular RNAs (circRNAs). Notably, circRNAs constitute a new class of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a covalently closed loop structure and have been characterized as stable, conserved molecules that are abundantly expressed in tissue/development-specific patterns in eukaryotes. Based on accumulating evidence, circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in CRC tissues, cells, exosomes, and blood from patients with CRC. Moreover, numerous circRNAs have been identified as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors that mediate tumorigenesis, metastasis and chemoradiation resistance in CRC. Although the regulatory mechanisms of circRNA biogenesis and functions remain fairly elusive, interesting results have been obtained in studies investigating CRC. In particular, the expression of circRNAs in CRC is comprehensively modulated by multiple factors, such as splicing factors, transcription factors, specific enzymes and cis-acting elements. More importantly, circRNAs exert pivotal effects on CRC through various mechanisms, including acting as miRNA sponges or decoys, interacting with RNA binding proteins, and even translating functional peptides. Finally, circRNAs may serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in the clinical practice of CRC. In this review, we discuss the dysregulation, functions and clinical significance of circRNAs in CRC and further discuss the molecular mechanisms by which circRNAs exert their functions and how their expression is regulated. Based on this review, we hope to reveal the functions of circRNAs in the initiation and progression of cancer and highlight the future perspectives on strategies targeting circRNAs in cancer research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongjiang Liu ◽  
Yundong Zou ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
Yundi Tang ◽  
Jianping Guo

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common and potentially fatal autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. To date, its etiology and pathogenesis remains elusive. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNAs with covalently closed loop structure. Growing evidence has demonstrated that circRNAs may play an essential role in regulation of gene expression and transcription by acting as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, impacting cell survival and proliferation by interacting with RNA binding proteins (RBPs), and strengthening mRNA stability by forming RNA-protein complexes duplex structures. The expression patterns of circRNAs exhibit tissue-specific and pathogenesis-related manner. CircRNAs have implicated in the development of multiple autoimmune diseases, including SLE. In this review, we summarize the characteristics, biogenesis, and potential functions of circRNAs, its impact on immune responses and highlight current understanding of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of SLE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandana Ameli-Mojarad ◽  
Melika Ameli-Mojarad ◽  
Mahrooyeh Hadizadeh ◽  
Chris Young ◽  
Hosna Babini ◽  
...  

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common type of cancer worldwide. Late detection plays role in one-third of annual mortality due to CRC. Therefore, it is essential to find a precise and optimal diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for the identification and treatment of colorectal tumorigenesis. Covalently closed, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs, which can have the same function as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, as regulators of splicing and transcription, and as interactors with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Therefore, circRNAs have been investigated as specific targets for diagnostic and prognostic detection of CRC. These non-coding RNAs are also linked to metastasis, proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and drug resistance, illustrating the importance of understanding their involvement in the molecular mechanisms of development and progression of CRC. In this review, we present a detailed summary of recent findings relating to the dysregulation of circRNAs and their potential role in CRC.


Author(s):  
Tao Wang ◽  
Xiaojun Li ◽  
Xiaojing Zhang ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Wenqian Liu ◽  
...  

A large number of RNA molecules have been found in the phloem of higher plants, and they can be transported to distant organelles through the phloem. RNA signals are important cues to be evolving in fortification strategies by long-distance transportation when suffering from various physiological challenges. So far, the mechanism of RNA selectively transportation through phloem cells is still in progress. Up to now, evidence have shown that several RNA motifs including Polypyrimidine (poly-CU) sequence, transfer RNA (tRNA)-related sequence, Single Nucleotide Mutation bound with specific RNA binding proteins to form Ribonucleotide protein (RNP) complexes could facilitate RNA mobility in plants. Furthermore, some RNA secondary structure such as tRNA-like structure (TLS), untranslation region (UTR) of mRNA, stem-loop structure of pre-miRNA also contributed to the mobility of RNAs. Latest researchs found that RNA methylation such as methylated 5′ cytosine (m5C) played an important role in RNA transport and function. These studies lay a theoretical foundation to uncover the mechanism of RNA transport. We aim to provide ideas and clues to inspire future research on the function of RNA motifs in RNA long-distance transport, furthermore to explore the underlying mechanism of RNA systematic signaling.


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