Circular RNAs and Cardiovascular Regeneration

circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNAs that are widely present in eukaryotic cells. They have the characteristics of stable structure, high abundance, and cell or tissue specific expression. circRNAs are single-stranded RNAs that are covalently back spliced to form closed circular loops. They may participate in gene expression and regulation through a variety of action modes. circRNAs can encode proteins or function by acting as miRNA sponges for protein translation. Since 2016, a growing number of research studies have shown that circRNAs play important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. With the construction of circRNA database, the differential expression of circRNAs in the heart tissue samples from different species and the gradual elucidation of its mode of action in disease may become an ideal diagnosis biomarker and an effective therapeutic target. What can be expected surely has a broader application prospect. In this review, we summarize recent publications on circRNA biogenesis, expression profiles, functions, and the most recent studies of circRNAs in the field of cardiovascular diseases with special emphasis on cardiac regeneration.