MicroRNAs in the Cholangiopathies: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
The cholangiopathies are a group of liver diseases resulting from different etiologies but with the cholangiocyte as the primary target. As a group, the cholangiopathies result in significant morbidity and mortality and represent one of the main indications for liver transplant in both children and adults. Contributing to this situation is the absence of a thorough understanding of their pathogenesis and a lack of adequate diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that modify gene expression post-transcriptionally. They have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including the cholangiopathies. Thus, in this review we provide an overview of the literature on miRNAs in the cholangiopathies and discuss future research directions.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Signaling in Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Pisarello.maria@mayo.edu.
Maria Jose Lorenzo
MJ
Pisarello
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Signaling in Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Loarca.Lorena@mayo.edu.
Lorena
L
Loarca
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Ivanics.Tommy@mayo.edu.
Tommy
T
Ivanics
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Signaling in Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Morton.Leslie@mayo.edu.
Leslie
L
Morton
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Signaling in Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. LaRusso.Nicholas@mayo.edu.
Nicholas
N
LaRusso
cholangiocarcinoma; cholangiopathies; microRNA