MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise an important class of small (about 22 nt) conserved nonprotein-coding RNAs that specifically regulate cellular gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Increasing researches showed that miRNAs have emerged as critical regulator s involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes, in-cluding such as proliferation, differentiation and development, apoptosis and patho-gen-host interactions. This review summarizes the crucial roles of miRNAs in replica-tion of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the mechanism underlying dysregulation of miRNAs in HBV-associated diseases. miRNAs are emerged as essential regulators of HBV replication and pathogenesis. To a certain extent, miRNA is a new promising biomarker and useful strategy for diagnosis of HBV-related diseases.
KeywordsMicroRNAHBVExpressionRegulationBiomarker
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