Research advances of circular RNA and renal fibrosis

As a serious threat to human health with a high prevalence, chronic kidney disease（CKD） is characterized by a gradual replacement of normal kidney cells by extracellular matrix（ECM）. It results in glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The mechanisms involved in renal fibrosis have remained poorly elucidated and no effective treatment is available. Recent studies have demonstrated that circular RNA（circRNA） exists in renal exosomes and participates in the pathological process of various renal diseases. Closely correlated with the occurrence and development of renal fibrosis, circRNA is involved in cell death, invasion, metastasis, epithelial mesenchymal transition（EMT） and other biological processes. It may be employed as a novel marker for diagnosing and treating renal diseased. This review summarized the roles and prospects of circRNA in renal fibrosis.