MicroRNA isoforms are differentially expressed with increasing disease activity and fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
This study investigates microRNA isoforms (isomiRs) as potential therapeutic targets by examining their roles and expression in Metabolic Associated Steatohepatitis Liver Disease (MASLD). The research aims to: (i) define the isomiR landscape in MASLD, (ii) explore their correlation with histological features, and (iii) understand their contribution to disease biology. We used snap-frozen liver tissue samples collected during biopsy, including 19 with MASLD, 47 with steatohepatitis (MASH), 11 with MASH-related cirrhosis, and 2 healthy controls without liver disease. Small RNA (sRNA) sequencing was performed to identify and characterize post-transcriptional modifications producing sRNA isoforms.