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Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
Circular RNAs in organ injury: recent development
Ryan Wong1, Yiwen Zhang1,2, Hailin Zhao3
1Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, SW10 9NH, UK.
Abstract:
Circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) are a class of long non-coding RNA that were once regarded as non-functional transcription byproducts. However, recent studies suggested that circRNAs may exhibit important regulatory roles in many critical biological pathways and disease pathologies. These studies have identified significantly differential expression profiles of circRNAs upon changes in physiological and pathological conditions of eukaryotic cells. Importantly, a substantial number of studies have suggested that circRNAs may play critical roles in organ injuries. This review aims to provide a summary of recent studies on circRNAs in organ injuries with respect to (1) changes in circRNAs expression patterns, (2) main mechanism axi(e)s, (3) therapeutic implications and (4) future study prospective. With the increasing attention to this research area and the advancement in high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing techniques, our knowledge of circRNAs may bring fruitful outcomes from basic and clinical research.
Insights
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), once dismissed as byproducts, are now recognized for critical regulatory roles in biological pathways and organ injuries. Research highlights their changing expression and therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) were initially considered non-functional transcription byproducts.
- Emerging evidence indicates circRNAs play significant regulatory roles in biological pathways and disease pathologies.
- Differential expression of circRNAs is observed under various physiological and pathological conditions in eukaryotic cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent research on circRNAs in organ injuries.
- To review changes in circRNA expression patterns, underlying mechanisms, and therapeutic implications.
- To discuss future research directions in the field of circRNAs and organ injury.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on circRNAs and organ injuries.
- Analysis of high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing data.
- Synthesis of findings regarding circRNA expression, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential.
Main Results:
- CircRNAs exhibit altered expression profiles in response to cellular stress and injury.
- These molecules are implicated in the pathogenesis of various organ injuries.
- Identified mechanisms involve circRNAs acting as miRNA sponges, protein scaffolds, or regulators of transcription/splicing.
Conclusions:
- CircRNAs are crucial players in organ injury development and progression.
- Understanding circRNA dysregulation offers potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Further research, aided by advanced sequencing, is expected to yield significant clinical and basic science insights.
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