2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (5): 751-757

Circular RNA as a competing endogenous RNA is involved in the regulation of osteoarthritis

Li Long1, Li Guangdi1, 2, Shi Hao2, Deng Keqi2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint diseases and the leading cause of chronic joint pain and limited mobility in older adults. As an emerging important member of the competing endogenous RNA regulatory network, circular RNA plays an important role in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To overview circular RNAs, their biological functions, and competing endogenous RNAs and to emphatically review the research progress in the role of circular RNAs as competing endogenous RNAs in osteoarthritis.
METHODS: CNKI, WanFang, VIP Chinese journal database, and PubMed databases were searched for relevant articles using “osteoarthritis, circular RNA, competing endogenous RNA” as Chinese and English search terms. We excluded outdated and repeated views, sorted out the retrieved literature, and selected 64 articles for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mechanism of circular RNAs by which affect the occurrence of osteoarthritis is mainly to bind microRNAs as competing endogenous RNAs, thereby regulating the expression level of their target genes and regulating the related proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of the cells to which they belong. Circular RNA as a competing endogenous RNA participates in regulating the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of chondrocytes. Circular RNA as a competing endogenous RNA participates in regulating the formation and degradation of the extracellular matrix of chondrocytes. Circular RNA as a competing endogenous RNA is involved in regulating the production of inflammatory factors in chondrocytes. Circular RNA as a competing endogenous RNA is involved in regulating synovial cell apoptosis and autoimmune responses. Since circular RNAs are highly stable and conserved, the research on the competing endogenous RNA regulatory network mediated by circular RNAs will also open up new avenues for basic research on osteoarthritis, which help understand the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis more comprehensively. Circular RNA is also expected to be a high-quality early diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for osteoarthritis. To date, the competing endogenous RNA regulatory network is still in the verification stage. With the rapid development of bioinformatics, the competing endogenous RNA regulatory network needs to be further improved and supplemented.
Key words: osteoarthritis, circular RNA, competing endogenous RNA, apoptosis, proliferation, autophagy, extracellular matrix, inflammatory factor, autoimmunity