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  • Review Article
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MicroRNAs in liver disease

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 10, pages 542–552 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Small, noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate diverse biological functions in the liver and increasing evidence suggests that they have a role in liver pathology. This Review summarizes advances in the field of miRNAs in liver diseases, inflammation and cirrhosis. MicroRNA-122, the most abundant miRNA in hepatocytes, has well-defined roles in HCV replication, and data indicate that it also serves as a viable therapeutic target. The role of miR-122 is also emerging in other liver diseases. Ample evidence exists for the important regulatory potential of other miRNAs in conditions associated with liver inflammation related to alcohol use, the metabolic syndrome or autoimmune processes. In addition, a broad array of miRNAs have been associated with the development of liver fibrosis both in animal models and human studies. The significance of the function and cellular distribution of miRNAs in the liver and the potential of miRNAs as a means of communication between cells and organs is discussed as well as the emerging utility of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers of different forms of liver damage and as early markers of disease and progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Importantly, miRNA modulation in the liver represents a new therapeutic approach in the treatment armamentarium of hepatologists in the future.

Key Points

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are encoded by genes and exert their intracellular effects by targeting post-transcriptional events on target genes

  • MiRNAs fine-tune all physiological and many pathological processes that are fundamental to normal liver functions and liver disease

  • The distribution and function of some miRNAs is cell-specific, and hepatocytes have the highest abundance of microRNA-122 expression in the body

  • In the liver, miRNAs have been shown to regulate processes such as inflammation, fibrosis, and lipid and glucose metabolism

  • Dysregulation in miRNAs is associated with liver diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, viral hepatitis, alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and drug-induced liver injury

  • Extracellular miRNAs could serve as biomarkers of liver disease, but specificity might be a limitation

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Figure 1: Biogenesis of miRNAs.
Figure 2: Role of microRNAs in alcoholic liver disease.
Figure 3: MicroRNAs in chronic HCV infection.
Figure 4: Regulation of fibrogenetic events by microRNAs.
Figure 5: Circulating/extracellular microRNAs as biomarkers of liver disease.

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Acknowledgements

The work of the authors is supported by NIAAA grant RO1-AA020744 (to G. Szabo).

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  1. Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, LRB208, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA

    Gyongyi Szabo & Shashi Bala

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  1. Gyongyi Szabo
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Correspondence to Gyongyi Szabo.

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Szabo, G., Bala, S. MicroRNAs in liver disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 10, 542–552 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.87

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