Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2013; 19(44): 7836-7845
Published online Nov 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i44.7836
Non-coding RNAs in hepatitis C-induced hepatocellular carcinoma: Dysregulation and implications for early detection, diagnosis and therapy
Weihong Hou, Herbert L Bonkovsky
Weihong Hou, Herbert L Bonkovsky, the Liver, Digestive and Metabolic Disorders Laboratory, and the Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Center, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, United States
Author contributions: Hou W conceived the topic, reviewed the literature and wrote the manuscript; Bonkovsky HL reviewed the literature and revised this paper critically.
Supported by A grant from the NIH/NHLBI, No. HL117199; Institutional funds from the Carolinas Health Care Foundation and Carolinas Medical Center
Correspondence to: Weihong Hou, PhD, Research Scientist, the Liver, Digestive and Metabolic Disorders Laboratory, and the Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Center, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203, United States. weihong.hou@carolinashealthcare.org
Telephone: +1-704-3559683 Fax: +1-704-3557648
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: October 14, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: November 28, 2013
Processing time: 74 Days and 9.4 Hours
Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of main causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the prevalence of HCV-associated HCC is on the rise worldwide. It is particularly important and helpful to identify potential markers for screening and early diagnosis of HCC among high-risk individuals with chronic hepatitis C, and to identify target molecules for the prevention and treatment of HCV-associated-HCC. Small non-coding RNAs, mainly microRNAs (miRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with size greater than 200 nucleotides, are likely to play important roles in a variety of biological processes, including development and progression of HCC. For the most part their underlying mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. In recent years, with the advance of high-resolution of microarray and application of next generation sequencing techniques, a significant number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) associated with HCC, particularly caused by HCV infection, have been found to be differentially expressed and to be involved in pathogenesis of HCV-associated HCC. In this review, we focus on recent studies of ncRNAs, especially miRNAs and lncRNAs related to HCV-induced HCC. We summarize those ncRNAs aberrantly expressed in HCV-associated HCC and highlight the potential uses of ncRNAs in early detection, diagnosis and therapy of HCV-associated HCC. We also discuss the limitations of recent studies, and suggest future directions for research in the field. miRNAs, lncRNAs and their target genes may represent new candidate molecules for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HCC in patients with HCV infection. Studies of the potential uses of miRNAs and lncRNAs as diagnostic tools or therapies are still in their infancy.

Keywords: MicroRNA; Long non-coding RNAs; Non-coding RNAs; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma

Core tip: Regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), mainly microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are likely to play important roles in a variety of biological processes, including development and progression of hepatitis C-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we focus on recent studies of ncRNAs, especially miRNAs and lncRNAs associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced HCC. We summarize those ncRNAs aberrantly expressed in HCV-induced HCC and highlight the potential of these ncRNAs to aid in early detection, diagnosis and therapy of HCV-induced HCC. Further, we discuss the limitations of current studies, and suggest future directions for research in the field.