Progress in researches on application of miRNAs in diagnosis and treatment of HBV-related liver diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as a kind of endogenous and stable non-coding single-stranded RNA with fine regulation function, can inhibit translation or degradation of their target genes and these processes correlate closely with the pathogenesis of some viruses and carcinogenesis of cells. During pathological processes of inflammation, cirrhosis, and canceration of liver in relation to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, miRNAs mediate mutual regulations between HBV and host cells and the expression spectrum of miRNAs varies with the ongoing of the mediations. These knowledge highlight good prospects in developing new antiviral agents targeted regulations of miRNAs. The study reviews published researches on applications of miRNAs in diagnosis and treatment of HBV infection related liver diseases.