Emerging roles of circular RNAs in stem cells

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of noncoding RNAs that widely exist in eukaryotes. As a new focus in the field of molecular regulation, circRNAs have attracted much attention in recent years. Previous studies have confirmed that circRNAs are associated with many physiological and pathological processes. CircRNAs also participate in the regulation of stem cells. Stem cells have the properties of self-renewal and differentiation, which make stem cell therapy popular. CircRNAs may serve as new targets in stem cell therapy due to their regulation in stem cells. However, the underlying relationships between circRNAs and stem cells are still being explored. In this review, we briefly summarize the effects of circRNAs on stem cells, in the context of biological activities, aging and apoptosis, and aberrant changes. Moreover, we also examine the biological roles of stem cell-derived exosomal circRNAs. We believe our review will provide insights into the effects of circRNAs on stem cells.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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