Insights into the Regulatory Roles of lncRNAs and circRNAs in Intervertebral Disk Degeneration: A Review

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise a significant portion of the transcriptome and contribute to various cellular and molecular processes and disease development. Although many functional roles for ncRNAs have been discovered, the regulatory functions of many require further elucidation. Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is a leading cause of lower back pain and represents a major social and financial challenge worldwide. This review summarizes the literature on long ncRNAs and circular RNAs as novel regulators in IDD development. IDD diminishes quality of life, underscoring the importance of research on its pathogenesis and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. The definitive cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying IDD pathogenesis remain unidentified, and no effective treatment is available. Both genetic and environmental or lifestyle factors are associated with IDD development. Therefore, understanding the exact molecular mechanisms of IDD could yield novel therapeutic targets.