Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Gastroenterology. 2012 Jun;142(7):1431-43. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2012.04.007. Epub 2012 Apr 11.
MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally through complementary base pairing with thousands of messenger RNAs. They regulate diverse physiological, developmental, and pathophysiological processes. Recent studies have uncovered the contribution of microRNAs to the pathogenesis of many human diseases, including liver diseases. Moreover, microRNAs have been identified as biomarkers that can often be detected in the systemic circulation. We review the role of microRNAs in liver physiology and pathophysiology, focusing on viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and cancer. We also discuss microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers and microRNA-based therapeutic approaches for liver disease.
MicroRNAs 是一类小的非编码 RNA 分子,通过与数千个信使 RNA 互补配对,在后转录水平上调节基因表达。它们调节多种生理、发育和病理生理过程。最近的研究揭示了 microRNAs 对许多人类疾病(包括肝病)发病机制的贡献。此外,microRNAs 已被鉴定为可以在全身循环中经常检测到的生物标志物。我们综述了 microRNAs 在肝脏生理和病理生理学中的作用,重点关注病毒性肝炎、肝纤维化和癌症。我们还讨论了 microRNAs 作为诊断和预后标志物以及基于 microRNA 的肝病治疗方法。