title: MicroRNAs: role and therapeutic targets in viral hepatitis.
abstract: MicroRNAs regulate gene expression by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The importance of microRNAs has been shown for several liver diseases, for example, viral hepatitis. MicroRNA-122 is highly abundant in the liver and is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism. MicroRNA-122 is also an important host factor for the HCV and promotes HCV replication. In contrast to HCV, microRNA-122 inhibits replication of the HBV. MicroRNA-122 acts as a tumour suppressor and reduced levels of microRNA-122 are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. MicroRNAs other than microRNA-122 have been linked to viral hepatitis, fibrosis and inflammation. In this review, we discuss function and clinical implications of microRNA-122 and other microRNAs in liver diseases, especially viral hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. meike.vanderree@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Meike H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van der Ree
authors.forename: Joep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Bruijne
authors.forename: Neeltje A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kootstra
authors.forename: Peter Lm
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Hendrik W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Reesink
mesh_terms: D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs