The role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis and progression of liver diseases

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of genes at the post-transcriptional level. They play a key role in a number of biological processes, including cell differentiation, immune response, apoptosis and metabolism regulation. They are also directly or indirectly involved in the development and progression of numerous diseases. In liver diseases there are many microRNAs, including miR-122, whose expression depends on the disease aetiology. Therefore, analysis of microRNA profile may have a diagnostic and prognostic value, and in the future may be useful in planning liver disease therapy