The role of circular RNAs in brain and stroke

Circular RNAs are single-stranded RNAs which are closed by covalent bonds during splicing. Different from other RNAs, circular RNAs are well known due to their circular structure. In recent years, many researches were conducted to investigate the role of circular RNAs in multiple diseases. To better understand the structure of circular RNAs, we reviewed the biogenesis and related regulation at first. Mechanisms by which circular RNAs exert effects were summarized then. Due to the conserved and brain-specific characteristic, circular RNAs in brain were depicted next. At last, considering the high mortality rate and disability rate caused by stroke globally, we reviewed related articles and summarized the results of original articles. Circular RNAs are suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of stroke as well as some other neurological diseases which provides new insights and potential targets in clinical application.