Micro-RNA profiling reveals a role for miR-29 in human and murine liver fibrosis

Abstract

Our data indicate that miR-29 mediates the regulation of liver fibrosis and is part of a signaling nexus involving TGF-β- and NF-κB-dependent down-regulation of miR-29 family members in HSC with subsequent up-regulation of extracellular matrix genes. Thus they may represent targets for novel therapeutic strategies against hepatic fibrogenesis and also might evolve as biomarkers in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis.