The role of circular RNAs in the diagnosis and therapy of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, hereditary inflammatory disease involving the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems. Globally, it is recognized as a challenging and currently incurable condition that significantly impairs patients’ quality of life. Therefore, elucidating its underlying pathogenesis and identifying novel, effective therapeutic strategies are of great importance. Genomic studies have shown that the majority of human gene sequences encode noncoding RNAs, among which circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a unique and functionally diverse subclass. CircRNAs are involved in the regulation of immune responses, inflammation, and cell proliferation through various molecular mechanisms. Increasing evidence suggests that circRNAs play critical roles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Numerous circRNAs have been found to be differentially expressed in psoriatic lesions compared with healthy, nonlesional skin. As such, specific circRNAs may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets in psoriasis. In this review, we summarize the circRNAs that are differentially expressed in psoriasis and discuss their associated biological functions, with a focus on their potential roles in diagnosis and treatment.