Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xi-Jing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Department of Ophthalmology, Xi-Jing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Int J Biol Sci. 2021 Apr 29;17(7):1851-1863. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.59588. eCollection 2021.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or, more accurately, metabolic associated fatty liver disease, accounts for a large proportion of chronic liver disorders worldwide and is closely associated with other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and can progress to cirrhosis and, eventually, also hepatocellular carcinoma. The morbidity and mortality associated with NAFLD are increasing rapidly year on year. Consequently, there is an urgent need to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD and identify effective therapeutic targets. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), important epigenetic factors, have recently been proposed to participate in NAFLD pathogenesis. Here, we review the roles of miRNAs in lipid metabolism, inflammation, apoptosis, fibrosis, hepatic stellate cell activation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress, key factors that contribute to the occurrence and progression of NAFLD. Additionally, we summarize the role of miRNA-enriched extracellular vesicles in NAFLD. These miRNAs may comprise suitable therapeutic targets for the treatment of this condition.
非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD），或者更准确地说，代谢相关脂肪性肝病，在全球范围内占慢性肝脏疾病的很大比例，并且与心血管疾病、肥胖症和 2 型糖尿病等其他疾病密切相关。NAFLD 的范围从单纯性脂肪变性到非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH），并可进展为肝硬化，最终也可进展为肝细胞癌。与 NAFLD 相关的发病率和死亡率逐年迅速增加。因此，迫切需要了解 NAFLD 的病因和发病机制，并确定有效的治疗靶点。微小 RNA（miRNA）作为重要的表观遗传因子，最近被提出参与 NAFLD 的发病机制。在这里，我们综述了 miRNA 在脂质代谢、炎症、细胞凋亡、纤维化、肝星状细胞激活、胰岛素抵抗和氧化应激等关键因素中的作用，这些因素是导致 NAFLD 发生和发展的原因。此外，我们总结了 miRNA 丰富的细胞外囊泡在 NAFLD 中的作用。这些 miRNA 可能成为治疗这种疾病的合适治疗靶点。
