Abstract
Overweight and obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, chronic alcoholism, as well
as infection by specific genotypes of hepatitis C viruses are all associated with
an excessive and chronic ectopic accumulation of fat in the liver (steatosis). If
the underlining causes of steatosis development are not resolved, progression toward
more severe liver diseases such as inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis can then
occur with time. These hepatic metabolic and histological disorders are commonly referred
to as fatty liver disease (FLD) and result from multiple deregulated molecular mechanisms
controlling hepatic homeostasis. Among these mechanisms, deregulation of a whole network
of small noncoding RNAs called microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression
at a posttranscriptional level, critically contributes to the development and progression
of FLD. Specific miRNAs secreted in body fluids are also emerging as useful biomarkers
of FLD and therapeutic targeting of miRNAs is currently being evaluated. The authors
discuss recent findings highlighting the role and complexity of miRNA regulatory networks,
which critically contribute to the development of FLD. As well, the potential therapeutic
perspectives for FLD that our understanding of hepatic miRNA biology offers is considered.
Keywords
steatosis - steatohepatitis - fibrosis - cirrhosis - noncoding RNA
