| Circular RNA (circRNA) is a recently discovered class of non-coding RNA, lacking 5' caps and 3' poly A tails, forming a covalently closed loop in reverse splicing mode. It was initially thought that circRNA was caused by errors in gene transcription. However, after further investigation, scientists believe that circRNA has important biological significance. What’s more, circRNA is stable, conservative and tissue-specific, which can act as miRNA sponge, regulate gene expression, interact with protein to affect cell biological behavior and participate in the occurrence and development of various orthopedics-related diseases (including osteoarthritis, osteosarcoma, etc.). It is expected to be a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Here, we briefly reviewed the characteristics, biogenesis, classification and function of circRNA, with a particular focus on the role of circRNA in various orthopedics-related diseases. |