Upregulation of microRNA-21 has previously been reported in the liver of patients with NASH. A new study now examined its role in the development of the disease. Liver microRNA-21 expression was suppressed in different mouse models of NASH, using a knockout strain and the antagonist antagomir-21. MicroRNA-21 inhibition or suppression successfully reduced liver injury, inflammation and fibrosis, by restoring PPARα expression, a known microRNA-21 target, which is decreased in the liver of mice with NASH.
References
Loyer, X. et al. Liver microRNA-21 is overexpressed in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and contributes to the disease in experimental models by inhibiting PPARα expression. Gut 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-308883
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MicroRNA-21 inhibition restores PPARα expression in NASH. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 12, 670 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2015.196
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2015.196
