Identification and functional analysis of circular RNAs in intervertebral disc lesion tissues from spinal tuberculosis patients

The differentially expressed circRNAs identified in intervertebral disc lesions of STB patients demonstrate significant involvement in disease pathogenesis, positioning them as promising candidates for both diagnostic and therapeutic targeting. Specifically, hsa_circ_0001021, hsa_circ_0043898, and hsa_circ_0093669 exhibit robust potential as peripheral blood-based diagnostic biomarkers for STB. When combined with conventional inflammatory markers ESR and CRP, these circRNAs significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, longitudinal monitoring revealed their unique value in postoperative therapeutic evaluation, with expression levels showing strong correlation with treatment response.