Circular RNA Expression Profiling in Cardiac Tissue from Heart Failure Patients and Healthy Controls

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in cardiovascular pathophysiology, with emerging therapeutic potential for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a recently characterized subclass of ncRNAs, have garnered significant interest due to their unique covalently closed-loop structures, which confer exceptional stability compared to linear RNAs. These molecules are generated through back-splicing, a non-canonical processing event of pre-mRNA transcripts. CircRNAs exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns, with notable enrichment in cardiac tissue, and demonstrate high evolutionary conservation—properties that underscore their translational relevance. Their functional versatility includes roles as microRNA sponges, protein interactors, and modulators of gene expression, positioning them as promising diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular conditions, particularly heart failure (HF). This study provides a comparative analysis of circular RNA (circRNA) expression patterns in left ventricular myocardial tissue from patients with heart failure (HF) and healthy controls, revealing differentially expressed circRNAs with potential therapeutic implications. Furthermore, we investigate novel circRNAs that may represent promising candidates for targeted interventions in heart failure. Overall design: Global circRNA expression profiling was performed using RNA-seq on left ventricular tissue samples obtained from healthy controls and heart failure patients.