title: MiR-122 in hepatic function and liver diseases.
abstract: As the most abundant liver-specific microRNA, microRNA-122 (miR-122) is involved in various physiological processes in hepatic function as well as in liver pathology. There is now compelling evidence that miR-122, as a regulator of gene networks and pathways in hepatocytes, plays a central role in diverse aspects of hepatic function and in the progress of liver diseases. This liver-enriched transcription factors-regulated miRNA promotes differentiation of hepatocytes and regulates lipid metabolism. With regard to liver diseases, miR-122 was shown to stimulate hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication through a unique and unusual interaction with two binding sites in the 5'-UTR of HCV genome to mediate the stability of the viral RNA, whereas inhibit the expression and replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by a miR-122-cylin G1/p53-HBV enhancer regulatory pathway. In addition, miR-122 acts as a suppressor of cell proliferation and malignant transformation of hepatocytes with remarkable tumor inhibition activity. Notably, a clinical trial targeting miR-122 with the anti-miR-122 oligonucleotides miravirsen, the first miRNA targeted drug, has been initiated for treatment of HCV infection. With further understanding of the comprehensive roles of miR-122 in hepatic functions and the mechanisms involved in miR-122 down-regulation in chronic hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma, miR-122 appears to be a promising candidate for effective therapeutic approaches against tumor and infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yaxing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Saifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Changfei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Songdong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: C531907:MIRN122 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs