Prognostic potential of hepatic miR-122 measurements and antisense strategies targeting miR-122 as a therapeutic approach in viral hepatitis.

摘要

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are receiving attention from many clinician scientists because of numerous reports on their dysregulation in human diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets. For hepatologists, the biological function and dysregulation of hepatic miRNAs, especially the highly abundant liver-specific miR-122, is of particular interest. MiR-122 is a factor implicated in liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In the context of viral hepatitis, the involvement of small non-coding RNAs in innate immune responses and virus-host interactions is of particular relevance.