Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2014; 20(37): 13477-13492
Published online Oct 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13477
Complex interactions between microRNAs and hepatitis B/C viruses
Hong-Xia Fan, Hua Tang
Hong-Xia Fan, Hua Tang, Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Author contributions: Both authors contributed to the search and analysis of literature and to the writing of the paper.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 91029714, No. 31071191, No. 31270818 and No. 31101000; and Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin, No. 09JCZDJC175 00 and No. 12JCZDJC25100
Correspondence to: Hua Tang, MD, PhD, Professor, Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22, Qi-Xiang-Tai Road, Tianjin 300070, China. htang2002@yahoo.com
Telephone: +86-22-83336836 Fax: +86-22-83336836
Received: January 15, 2014
Revised: March 28, 2014
Accepted: June 2, 2014
Published online: October 7, 2014
Processing time: 265 Days and 8.8 Hours
Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of many target genes via mRNA degradation or translation inhibition. Many studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in the modulation of gene expression and replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and play a pivotal role in host-virus interactions. Increasing evidence also demonstrates that viral infection leads to alteration of the miRNA expression profile in hepatic tissues or circulation. The deregulated miRNAs participate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression by functioning as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes by targeting various genes involved in cancer-related signaling pathways. The distinct expression pattern of miRNAs may be a useful marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of virus-related diseases considering the limitation of currently used biomarkers. Moreover, the role of deregulated miRNA in host-virus interactions and HCC development suggested that miRNAs may serve as therapeutic targets or as tools. In this review, we summarize the recent findings about the deregulation and the role of miRNAs during HBV/HCV infection and HCC development, and we discuss the possible mechanism of action of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of virus-related diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of using miRNAs as markers for diagnosis and prognosis as well as therapeutic targets and drugs.

Keywords: MicroRNA; Hepatitis B/C virus; Host-virus interaction; Biomarker; Therapy

Core tip: Chronic hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection changed miRNA expression profiles at the tissue or serum level, and the altered miRNAs play pivotal roles in gene expression and replication of the viruses and the development of virus-related diseases. These findings suggest that miRNAs have the potential as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in virus-related diseases.