microRNA在肝纤维化进程中的作用

Recent progress in understanding the role of microRNAs in hepatic stellate cell biology and liver fibrosis pathogenesis

微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)是一类长约21～22nt的内源性非编码调控RNA,可作用于靶mRNA导致其降解或抑制其翻译,对基因表达起重要的负性调控作用,参与体内如发育、细胞分化、细胞增殖、细胞死亡等众多重要的生物学进程。近年研究发现,miRNA这一转录后水平调控分子在肝纤维化发生发展中起着重要的作用。已发现若干miRNA可调控参与肝纤维化形成的细胞因子或通过调控肝星状细胞(HSC)的活化增殖、凋亡等,促进或减缓纤维化进程,本文对miRNA在HSC及肝纤维化进程中的研究进展作一综述。

Small non-coding RNAs（21~22nt in length;known as microRNAs,miRNAs） regulate a broad array of biological processes by disrupting gene expression through physically degrading or inhibiting translation of target mRNA sequences.miRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression has been demonstrated in both physiologic and pathogenic processes of cellular differentiation,proliferation,and death.Recent studies of liver fibrosis have begun to implicate miRNAs in the disease development and progression,which in turn suggests a potential new perspective for preventive and therapeutic molecular strategies.In this review,we summarize the various miRNAs identified as differentially expressed under conditions of liver fibrosis and then detail the latest findings regarding their roles in activation of hepatic stellate cells（HSCs）,the key early event in liver fibrosis.In addition,the latest findings regarding which signaling pathways and factors（such as cytokines,growth and apoptotic factors） these miRNAs interact with and modulate are discussed to provide a comprehensive insight into the fibrosis-related functions of miRNAs which may be manipulated to reduce,halt,or reverse the fibrotic process.