Open AccessCircular RNAs in nucleus pulposus cell function and intervertebral disc degeneration
Author(s) -
Li Zheng,
Chen Xin,
Xu Derong,
Li Shugang,
Chan Matthew T. V.,
Wu William K. K.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.12704
Subject(s) - nucleus , microbiology and biotechnology , intervertebral disc , biology , degeneration (medical) , function (biology) , extracellular matrix , neuroscience , anatomy , pathology , medicine
Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common cause of low back pain, which inflicts more global disability than any other condition. Although IDD was deemed to be a natural process that comes with ageing, a growing body of evidence suggested that both genetic and environmental factors could modify the development of IDD. In this connection, aberrant function of nucleus pulposus cells has been implicated in IDD pathogenesis. Circular RNAs are a novel class of endogenous non‐coding RNAs that play crucial regulatory roles in diverse cellular processes. Recently, deregulation of circRNAs in nucleus pulposus cells was found to functionally participate in IDD development. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the deregulation of circRNAs in IDD in relation to their actions on nucleus pulposus cell functions, including cell proliferation, apoptosis and extracellular matrix synthesis/degradation. The potential clinical utilities of circRNAs as therapeutic targets for the management of IDD are also discussed.