title: MicroRNAs in cholangiopathies: Potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
abstract: Cholangiopathies are the group of diseases targeting the bile duct epithelial cells (i.e. cholangiocytes). These disorders arise from different etiologies and represent a current diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic challenge. Different molecular mechanisms participate in the development and progression of each type of biliary disease. However, microRNA deregulation is a common central event occurring in all of them that plays a key role in their pathogenesis. MicroRNAs are highly stable small non-coding RNAs present in cells, extracellular microvesicles and biofluids, representing valuable diagnostic tools and potential targets for therapy. In the following sections, the most novel and significant discoveries in this field are summarized and their potential clinical value is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Aitor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esparza-Baquer
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Ibone
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Labiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián, Spain; National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bujanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián, Spain; National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Perugorria
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián, Spain; National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: jesus.banales@biodonostia.org.
authors.forename: Jesús M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Banales
mesh_terms: D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs