The Application of Non-Coding RNAs as Biomarkers, Therapies, and Novel Vaccines in Diseases

Abstract

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNAs that largely lack the capacity to encode proteins. They have garnered significant attention due to their central regulatory functions across numerous cellular and physiological processes at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational levels. Over the past decade, ncRNA-based therapies have gained considerable attention in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, and many studies have revealed a significant relationship between ncRNAs and diseases. At the same time, due to their tissue specificity, an increasing number of projects have focused on the application of ncRNAs as biomarkers in diseases, as well as the design and development of novel ncRNA-based vaccines and therapies for clinical use. These ncRNAs may also drive research into the potential molecular mechanisms and complex pathogenesis of related diseases. However, new biomarkers need to be validated for their clinical effectiveness. Additionally, to produce safe and stable RNA products, factors such as purity, precise dosage, and effective delivery methods must be ensured to achieve optimal bioactivity. These challenges remain key issues in the clinical application of ncRNAs. This review summarizes the prospects of ncRNAs as potential biomarkers, as well as the current research status and clinical applications of ncRNAs in therapies and vaccines, and discusses the challenges and expectations of ncRNAs in disease diagnosis and drug therapy.

Keywords: biomarker; ncRNAs; therapy; vaccine.

Figure 1

In vitro synthesis methods of circRNAs. (A) The chemical strategy. (B) The enzymatic strategy. (C) Group I intron-based permuted intron–exon (PIE) system. The sequence to be circularized is inserted into the exon regions (E1 and E2). In the presence of guanosine triphosphate (GTP), self-splicing is initiated, resulting in circularization, and two half-intron fragments are released. The circularized circRNA contains E1 and E2 (referred to as the scar sequence), which may affect the target sequence. (D) Group II intron-based PIE system. This system has no redundant sequences. After the lariat intron is removed, the ends of the exon are joined to form a circle.

Figure 2

Delivery methods of circRNA vaccines. (A) Early experimental delivery methods include electroporation, gene gun, and microinjection. (B) The structure of using LNP to deliver circRNA vaccines.