Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are transcribed by RNA polymerase II and are mostly generated by the back-splicing of exons in the protein-coding gene. Massive circRNAs are reported to be differentially expressed in different species, implicating their prospects as aging biomarkers or regulators in the aging progression. Methods: The possible role of circRNAs in aging and longevity was reviewed by the query of circRNAs from literature reports related to tissue, organ or cellular senescence, and individual longevity. Results: A number of circRNAs have been found to positively and negatively modulate aging and longevity through canonical aging pathways in the invertebrates Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila. Recent studies have also shown that circRNAs regulate age-related processes and pathologies such various mammalian tissues, as the brain, serum, heart, and muscle. Besides, three identified representative circRNAs (circSfl, circGRIA1, and circNF1-419) were elucidated to correlate with aging and longevity. Conclusion: This review outlined the current studies of circRNAs in aging and longevity, highlighting the role of circRNAs as a biomarker of aging and as a regulator of longevity.

中文翻译：

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环状 RNA 参与衰老和长寿

背景：环状 RNA (circRNA) 由 RNA 聚合酶 II 转录，主要由蛋白质编码基因外显子的反向剪接产生。据报道，大量 circRNA 在不同物种中差异表达，暗示它们作为衰老生物标志物或衰老过程中的调节剂的前景。方法：通过查询与组织、器官或细胞衰老以及个体长寿相关的文献报道中的 circRNA，回顾 circRNA 在衰老和长寿中的可能作用。结果：已发现许多 circRNA 通过无脊椎动物秀丽隐杆线虫和果蝇中的典型衰老途径正向和负向调节衰老和长寿。最近的研究还表明，circRNA 调节与年龄相关的过程和病理，例如各种哺乳动物组织，如大脑、血清、心脏和肌肉。此外，三个已鉴定的代表性 circRNA（circSfl、circGRIA1 和 circNF1-419）被阐明与衰老和长寿相关。结论：这篇综述概述了目前 circRNA 在衰老和长寿方面的研究，强调了 circRNA 作为衰老生物标志物和长寿调节剂的作用。