title: MicroRNAs in liver disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. xw3u@nih.gov
authors.forename: Xin Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Niels H H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Heegaard
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000235:genetics; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000235:genetics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs