Circular RNAs as potential therapeutics and novel biomarkers for heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a type of chronic pathological remodeling in which the heart fails to efficiently supply an adequate amount of blood to fulfill the body’s requirements. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recognized as specific types of long noncoding RNAs that are involved in the regulation of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac remodeling and HF. In this review, knowledge about the origin, characteristics, and function of circRNAs is summarized. The regulatory function of circRNAs in cardiac remodeling mechanisms, including cell death, cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis and mitochondrial metabolism, is reviewed. Finally, future directions for investigating the diagnostic and pharmacological potential of circRNAs in HF are proposed.