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Review
. 2023 Apr 17:14:1147710.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147710. eCollection 2023.

MicroRNA: role in macrophage polarization and the pathogenesis of the liver fibrosis

Wen Yu  1 , Shu Wang  1 , Yangyang Wang  1 , Hui Chen  2 , Hao Nie  1   3 , Lian Liu  3 , Xiaoting Zou  1   3 , Quan Gong  1   3 , Bing Zheng  1   3
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNA: role in macrophage polarization and the pathogenesis of the liver fibrosis

Wen Yu et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Macrophages, as central components of innate immunity, feature significant heterogeneity. Numerus studies have revealed the pivotal roles of macrophages in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis induced by various factors. Hepatic macrophages function to trigger inflammation in response to injury. They induce liver fibrosis by activating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and then inflammation and fibrosis are alleviated by the degradation of the extracellular matrix and release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding endogenous RNA molecules that regulate gene expression through translation repression or mRNA degradation, have distinct roles in modulating macrophage activation, polarization, tissue infiltration, and inflammation regression. Considering the complex etiology and pathogenesis of liver diseases, the role and mechanism of miRNAs and macrophages in liver fibrosis need to be further clarified. We first summarized the origin, phenotypes and functions of hepatic macrophages, then clarified the role of miRNAs in the polarization of macrophages. Finally, we comprehensively discussed the role of miRNAs and macrophages in the pathogenesis of liver fibrotic disease. Understanding the mechanism of hepatic macrophage heterogeneity in various types of liver fibrosis and the role of miRNAs on macrophage polarization provides a useful reference for further research on miRNA-mediated macrophage polarization in liver fibrosis, and also contributes to the development of new therapies targeting miRNA and macrophage subsets for liver fibrosis.

Keywords: HSC; M1 macrophage; M2 macrophage; liver fibrosis; macrophage polarization; microRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Macrophage-derived exosomal miRNAs regulate the activation and apoptosis of HSCs involved in the pathology of liver fibrosis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
miRNAs modulate the macrophage polarization and participate in the liver fibrosis through different signaling pathway.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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