Recent advancements in genome-wide analyses and RNA-sequencing technologies led to the discovery of small noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRs), as well as both linear long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular long noncoding RNAs (circRNAs). The importance of miRs and lncRNAs in the treatment, prognosis and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been extensively reported. We also previously reviewed their implications in therapies and as biomarkers for CVDs. More recently, circRNAs have also emerged as important regulators in CVDs. CircRNAs are circular genome products that are generated by back splicing of specific regions of pre-messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Growing interest in circRNAs led to the discovery of a wide array of their pathophysiological functions. CircRNAs have been shown to be key regulators of CVDs such as myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy and cardiac fibrosis. Accordingly, circRNAs have been recently proposed as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for CVDs. In this review, we summarize the current state of the literature on circRNAs, starting with their biogenesis and global mechanisms of actions. We then provide a synopsis of their involvement in various CVDs. Lastly, we emphasize the great potential of circRNAs as biomarkers for the early detection of CVDs, and discuss several patents and recent papers that highlight the utilization of circRNAs as promising biomarkers.

中文翻译：

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环状非编码 RNA 作为心血管疾病的潜在疗法和循环生物标志物。

全基因组分析和 RNA 测序技术的最新进展导致发现了小的非编码 RNA，例如 microRNA (miRs)，以及线性长非编码 RNA (lncRNA) 和环状长非编码 RNA (circRNA)。miRs和lncRNAs在心血管疾病（CVDs）的治疗、预后和诊断中的重要性已被广泛报道。我们之前还回顾了它们在治疗和作为 CVD 生物标志物中的意义。最近，circRNA 也已成为 CVD 中的重要调节因子。CircRNA 是环状基因组产物，由前信使 RNA (pre-mRNA) 的特定区域反向剪接产生。对 circRNA 日益浓厚的兴趣导致发现了它们广泛的病理生理功能。CircRNAs 已被证明是心血管疾病的关键调节因子，如心肌梗塞、动脉粥样硬化、心肌病和心脏纤维化。因此，最近有人提出 circRNA 作为 CVD 的潜在治疗靶点和生物标志物。在这篇综述中，我们总结了关于 circRNA 的文献现状，从它们的生物发生和全局作用机制开始。然后，我们提供了他们参与各种 CVD 的概要。最后，我们强调了 circRNA 作为早期检测 CVD 的生物标志物的巨大潜力，并讨论了几项突出利用 circRNA 作为有前途的生物标志物的专利和最近的论文。我们总结了有关 circRNA 的文献现状，从它们的生物发生和全局作用机制开始。然后，我们提供了他们参与各种 CVD 的概要。最后，我们强调了 circRNA 作为早期检测 CVD 的生物标志物的巨大潜力，并讨论了几项专利和最近的论文，这些论文强调了 circRNA 作为有前景的生物标志物的利用。我们总结了有关 circRNA 的文献现状，从它们的生物发生和全局作用机制开始。然后，我们提供了他们参与各种 CVD 的概要。最后，我们强调了 circRNA 作为早期检测 CVD 的生物标志物的巨大潜力，并讨论了几项突出利用 circRNA 作为有前途的生物标志物的专利和最近的论文。