Invited: MicroRNAs and their Implications to Human Health

Gene expression is the process by which the genetic information encoded in the DNA is used to synthesize proteins that perform most of the functions in the cells of all living organisms. This process is highly regulated, and errors can cause a broad range of diseases. MicroRNAs are evolutionarily conserved small RNAs that play a major role in regulating gene expression. MicroRNAs are found both in body fluids and tissues, and their levels vary between normal and different pathological conditions, including cancer. Thus, microRNAs have emerged as a class of promising non-invasive biomarkers for rapid detection of human disease and targets for therapeutic intervention.

We have developed new analytical approaches to explore the applicability of microRNAs as biomarkers for drug-induced liver toxicity in human patients and to study their function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using mouse models.