Title:The Expression Patterns and Clinical Significance of microRNAs in Liver Diseases and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Volume: 19
Issue: 7
Author(s): Jinsheng Guo and Scott L. Friedman
Affiliation:
Keywords:
microRNA, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver diseases, noncoding RNAs, silencers, gene expression, oncogenes, tumor suppressors, antagomirs, targeted therapy
Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that constitute silencers of target gene expression
and have emerged as key regulatory molecules of mammalian cell functions. Aberrant miRNA expression promotes pathologic conditions
including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a variety of precancerous liver diseases, especially chronic hepatitis B and C, and
liver cirrhosis. miRNAs may contribute to HCC development by acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Specific alterations of
miRNA expression have also been related to clinical features of HCC, such as stage, differentiation, prognosis, and response to adjuvant
therapy. miRNA signatures may help define molecular profiles of liver diseases as biomarkers, and allow classification of different stages
of cirrhosis and HCC progression. Either miRNAs, or anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (antagomirs) could be used for in vivo modulation of
miRNA actions, and thus have significant potential in molecularly targeted therapy.
