title: MicroRNAs and cholestatic liver diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To highlight the increasing evidence supporting the concept that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the cause and pathogenesis of cholestatic liver disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miRNAs play a key role in maintaining bile acid homeostasis and modulating pathological processes associated to liver cholestasis, such as proliferation, apoptosis, fibrosis and cancer. Changes in the expression level of specific miRNAs have been reported in serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells or liver tissue from patients suffering from chronic cholestatic liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our understanding regarding the role of miRNAs in the development and progression of cholestatic liver diseases is still limited, in the present review, we have revised and discussed the recent information that has emerged on the role of miRNAs in the secretory function of the liver under physiological and pathological conditions. This has led to suggest their potential usefulness as biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of cholestatic liver diseases, as well as tools for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: aExperimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEFARM), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, Salamanca bCenter for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid cDepartment of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute - Donostia University Hospital, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián dIKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science and 'Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, (AECC)', Spain.
authors.forename: Jose J G
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bujanda
authors.forename: Jesus M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Banales
mesh_terms: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs