The role of miRNAs in animal models of liver fibrosis

Many chronic liver diseases are still not sufficiently treatable and often progress to liver cirrhosis representing a major global health burden. However, despite the enormous relevance of this disease, pharmacological strategies for prevention or treatment of hepatic fibrosis are still limited, underlining the need to establish a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of hepatic cirrhosis.Since their discovery in 1993, miRNAs have emerged as a new class of small RNAs that regulate gene expression during different physiological and pathological processes. Just recently, various experimental systems as well as data from human tissue revealed a role for miRNAs as regulators of whole gene networks associated with liver diseases such as fibrosis, hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Here we summarize some important findings on the role of miRNAs in experimental models of liver fibrosis on miRNAs identified in the different experimental models of liver fibrosis. We compare data from these animal models with recent findings on miRNAs dysregulated in human patients samples and discuss their potential values in prevention and treatment of liver cirrhosis.