microRNA在肝纤维化中的作用

肝纤维化是肝脏慢性损伤的结果。大多数慢性肝病共有的特征是细胞外基质蛋白的沉积和纤维形成,这些共同特征由复杂的信号通路网络控制。肝星形细胞和Kupffer细胞等炎症细胞参与了慢性肝脏疾病的发展。严重的肝纤维化导致肝硬化、肝功能丧失以及门静脉高压,最终必须进行肝移植才能治疗。microRNAs（miRNAs,miR）作为一类细胞内分子,被证实在肝脏纤维化发生发展过程中起着重要的调控作用,本文就miRNAs与肝脏纤维化发生发展的关系以及几种常见慢性肝脏疾病潜在的治疗新策略进行综述。

Recent advances in understanding microRNAs involvement in liver fibrosis

A primary complication of chronic liver disease is liver fibrosis,yet the pathogenic mechanisms of this condition remain to be fully elucidated and may hold the key to development of effective treatment or preventive measures.Biological studies have revealed that fibrosis forms upon the aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix proteins,and molecular studies are beginning to uncover the complex signaling networks that regulate the fibrogenic process.Most recently,investigations have implicated roles for the class of small non-coding RNA molecules,microRNAs（miRNAs）,that can modulate a diverse array of physiological processes by disrupting or inhibiting gene expression at the post-translational level.In this review,we summarize the current knowledge of miRNAs in development and progression of liver fibrosis,with particular focus on the specific pathogeneses related to conditions of non-alcoholic fatty liver and viral hepatitis.In addition,the potential role of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for chronic liver diseases is discussed.