Functions of Circular RNAs in Regulating Adipogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract

The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known as highly plastic stem cells and can differentiate into specialized tissues such as adipose tissue, osseous tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. The differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is very important in regenerative medicine. Their differentiation process is regulated by signaling pathways of epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional levels. Circular RNA (circRNA), a class of noncoding RNAs generated from protein-coding genes, plays a pivotal regulatory role in many biological processes. Accumulated studies have demonstrated that several circRNAs participate in the cell differentiation process of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and in vivo. In the current review, characteristics and functions of circRNAs in stem cell differentiation will be discussed. The mechanism and key role of circRNAs in regulating mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, especially adipogenesis, will be reviewed and discussed. Understanding the roles of these circRNAs will present us with a more comprehensive signal path network of modulating stem cell differentiation and help us discover potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clinic.

CircDOCK7 facilitates the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of chicken abdominal preadipocytes through the gga-miR-301b-3p/ACSL1 axis

“…Despite substantial research efforts aimed at characterizing the genetic regulation of obesity and adipogenesis, the molecular mechanisms underlying abdominal fat deposition remain largely unknown in mammals and economically important agricultural avian species, especially chickens. CircRNAs are ubiquitous across eukaryotes and have been increasingly implicated as master regulators of mammalian adipogenesis [ 41 , 42 ]. A number of circRNAs have been reported to share high evolutionary conservation among closely related species, even distantly related species [ 43 ].…”

Editorial: Regulation Mechanism of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Differentiation and Translation

“…Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are a population of mesenchymal stem cells with the multipotent capability in adipose tissue, which can be easily harvested during liposuction or resection of adipose tissue. A series of studies have demonstrated that ASCs can differentiate into many different cell types including osteocytes, chondrocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and adipocytes (Wang et al, 2020). ASCs have received considerable attention over the past decades, mainly because of their therapeutic potential in different areas of applied science.…”

Emerging Potential of Exosomes on Adipogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

“…Adipogenesis is mainly divided into two stages: commitment and terminal differentiation. MSCs formed pre-adipocytes and then eventually differentiate into mature adipocytes ( Ambele et al, 2020 ; Wang F. et al, 2020 ). Specific detailed differentiation steps can be referred to the summary of our laboratory ( Wang F. et al, 2020 ).…”