Understanding tsRNAs: From classification to disease mechanisms

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNA molecules generated through the cleavage of tRNA, primarily categorized into tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and tRNA-derived stress-induced small RNAs (tiRNAs). tsRNAs have been shown to play diverse roles in essential biological processes, such as gene expression regulation, cellular stress response, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, tsRNAs are abnormally expressed in various disease states and play a key role in disease pathogenesis. This article reviews the generation, classification, and nomenclature of tsRNAs, examines their potential biological functions and mechanisms in diseases, and discusses their promise as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Although tsRNA research is still in its early stages, the potential applications of tsRNAs in disease treatment are promising and warrant further investigation.