The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical Applications

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded noncoding RNAs with a covalently closed loop structure. They are known for their stability, abundance, and highly conserved nature. Their expression is often specific to tissues or developmental stages. They interact with microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-bindin...

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Main Authors: Wen Wu, Menglei Xiong, Chen Jiang, Xinru Zhou, Yingjie Ma, Tao Wang, Shan He, Baicheng Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/795
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author Wen Wu
Menglei Xiong
Chen Jiang
Xinru Zhou
Yingjie Ma
Tao Wang
Shan He
Baicheng Ma
author_facet Wen Wu
Menglei Xiong
Chen Jiang
Xinru Zhou
Yingjie Ma
Tao Wang
Shan He
Baicheng Ma
author_sort Wen Wu
collection DOAJ
description Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded noncoding RNAs with a covalently closed loop structure. They are known for their stability, abundance, and highly conserved nature. Their expression is often specific to tissues or developmental stages. They interact with microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and they undergo N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) modifications, further affecting gene transcription and translation. Increasing evidence over the past decades has revealed that dysregulated circRNA expression is associated with various neurological disorders, particularly the glioma, one of the most malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. Due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and drug resistance, conventional therapeutic approaches have shown limited efficacy. Recently, increasing attention has been directed toward precisely targeted therapies, with circRNAs emerging as promising molecules for cancer treatment. Studies indicate that circRNAs play a key role in glioma proliferation and metastasis. Substantial evidence indicates that exosomes can package circRNAs and facilitate their transport across the BBB into brain tissue, highlighting the potential of circRNAs as therapeutic targets for glioma. This review summarizes circRNAs’ functional mechanisms, clinical application relevance, and current limitations. It offers future research directions in this evolving field, aiming to encourage further research on circRNAs’ therapeutic applications and contribute to the development of novel glioma-treatment strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-c4c90e5ef5fb402ea1f67f8444dcae892025-08-20T03:58:25ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-06-0114779510.3390/biology14070795The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical ApplicationsWen Wu0Menglei Xiong1Chen Jiang2Xinru Zhou3Yingjie Ma4Tao Wang5Shan He6Baicheng Ma7Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Precision Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, ChinaCircular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded noncoding RNAs with a covalently closed loop structure. They are known for their stability, abundance, and highly conserved nature. Their expression is often specific to tissues or developmental stages. They interact with microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and they undergo N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) modifications, further affecting gene transcription and translation. Increasing evidence over the past decades has revealed that dysregulated circRNA expression is associated with various neurological disorders, particularly the glioma, one of the most malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. Due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and drug resistance, conventional therapeutic approaches have shown limited efficacy. Recently, increasing attention has been directed toward precisely targeted therapies, with circRNAs emerging as promising molecules for cancer treatment. Studies indicate that circRNAs play a key role in glioma proliferation and metastasis. Substantial evidence indicates that exosomes can package circRNAs and facilitate their transport across the BBB into brain tissue, highlighting the potential of circRNAs as therapeutic targets for glioma. This review summarizes circRNAs’ functional mechanisms, clinical application relevance, and current limitations. It offers future research directions in this evolving field, aiming to encourage further research on circRNAs’ therapeutic applications and contribute to the development of novel glioma-treatment strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/795circRNAsgliomaRNA-binding protein (RBP)MiRNA spongeblood–brain barrier (BBB)clinical therapy
spellingShingle Wen Wu
Menglei Xiong
Chen Jiang
Xinru Zhou
Yingjie Ma
Tao Wang
Shan He
Baicheng Ma
The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical Applications
Biology
circRNAs
glioma
RNA-binding protein (RBP)
MiRNA sponge
blood–brain barrier (BBB)
clinical therapy
title The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical Applications
title_full The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical Applications
title_fullStr The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical Applications
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical Applications
title_short The Role of Circular RNA in the Progression of Gliomas and Its Potential Clinical Applications
title_sort role of circular rna in the progression of gliomas and its potential clinical applications
topic circRNAs
glioma
RNA-binding protein (RBP)
MiRNA sponge
blood–brain barrier (BBB)
clinical therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/795
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