Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 5-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan,
J Gastroenterol. 2014 Feb;49(2):173-84. doi: 10.1007/s00535-013-0909-8. Epub 2013 Nov 21.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally through complementary base pairing with thousands of messenger RNAs. Although the precise biological functions of individual miRNAs are still unknown, miRNAs are speculated to play important roles in diverse biological processes through fine regulation of their target gene expression. A growing body of data indicates the deregulation of miRNAs during hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding deregulated miRNA expression and their possible target genes in hepatocarcinogenesis, with emphasis on inflammation-related hepatocarcinogenesis. Because miRNA-based strategies are being applied to clinical therapeutics, precise knowledge of miRNA functions is crucial both scientifically and clinically. We discuss the current open questions from these points of view, which must be clarified in the near future.
微小 RNA（miRNA）是一类小的非编码 RNA 分子，通过与数千个信使 RNA 互补碱基配对，在后转录水平上调节基因表达。尽管个别 miRNA 的精确生物学功能仍不清楚，但推测它们通过精细调节靶基因的表达，在多种生物学过程中发挥重要作用。越来越多的证据表明，miRNA 在肝癌发生过程中失调。在这篇综述中，我们总结了关于肝癌发生过程中 miRNA 表达失调及其可能的靶基因的最新发现，重点关注与炎症相关的肝癌发生。由于 miRNA 为基础的策略正在应用于临床治疗，因此准确了解 miRNA 的功能在科学和临床方面都是至关重要的。我们从这些角度讨论了当前存在的问题，这些问题必须在不久的将来得到澄清。
