title: MicroRNAs and liver disease.
abstract: The biological roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively studied. miRNA122 represents more than half of the miRNAs expressed in the liver and has various physiological and pathological functions, which include enhancing hepatitis virus replication, regulating lipid metabolism and suppressing hepatocellular carcinoma. miRNAs, whether globally or individually, have been linked with hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, some miRNAs have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Using nucleotide-based strategies, these miRNAs may be developed as potential therapeutic targets. Because changes in miRNA expression can be measured in sera, they may be used as non-invasive biomarkers if they correctly reflect the pathological state of the liver. In this review, we show the biological roles of representative miRNAs in liver disease and discuss the current issues that remain to be clarified for future clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.|Japan Science and Technology Agency, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2869-2881
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamagami
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koike
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs