Circular RNA in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are widely present and participate in a variety of biological regulatory activities as a novel type of endogenous noncoding RNA molecule. With advances in RNA structure and function analysis, it was found that circRNAs are present in a myriad of life processes and longevity in model organisms such as mice, flies, and worms. Accumulating evidence indicates the involvement of circRNAs in regulation of age-related pathologies such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative disease, suggesting that circRNAs may have great potential implications in clinical and research fields. In this chapter, we review recent advances in circRNA functions and mechanisms and discuss their roles in aging and age-related diseases. It will provide insight into the regulatory roles of circRNAs in aging and age-related diseases.