Liver microRNA-21 is overexpressed in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and contributes to the disease in experimental models by inhibiting PPARα expression.

Commentary

This original study demonstrated that microRNA-21 is overexpressed in the liver of patients with NASH, but not in those with bland steatosis. Liver microRNA-21 in NASH is primarily expressed in inflammatory and biliary cells. Using different mouse models of NASH, authors demonstrated that microRNA-21 contributes to key features of NASH, i.e. cell injury, inflammation and fibrosis, through PPARα inhibition.