MiRNAs: EMERGING DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC TARGETS FOR HEPATITIS C VIRUS-ASSOCIATED DISEASES

The Hepatitis C virus is the causative agent of several diseases including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and it infects millions of people worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small noncoding RNAs with the ability to control gene expression through the alteration of the posttranscriptional silencing of target genes. These miRNAs can be detected in viruses, plants and animals. They are involved in the alteration of physiological responses and have been utilised in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of a large number of diseases. Alterations in miRNA expression are linked to the deregulation of liver metabolism, liver damage, fibrosis and tumour growth; factors that make miRNAs appealing therapeutic methods for detecting and treating liver illnesses. Several miRNA biomarkers have recently been identified from serum or tissue samples from patients with infectious diseases. However, their specificity related to clinical and pathological applications has not been well characterised. In case of hepatitis C virus infection, various microRNAs are upregulated, such as miR-155, miR-296, miR-122 and miR-351, while miR-221, miR-222 and miR-181 are downregulated. We explore the role of circulating microRNAs in hepatitis C liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Specifically, microRNA-122 plays a crucial role in HCV replication and is a potential therapeutic target. Understanding the significance of microRNAs in liver diseases may lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.