Novel non-coding RNA-based therapeutic approaches to prevent statin-induced liver damage

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that control gene expression of target messenger RNA (mRNAs) at the posttranscriptional level by mRNA degradation or translational repression. Thus, miRNAs have emerged as critical regulators during physiological and pathological processes (Thum et al, 2007). Recently, several reports have revealed an important role for miRNAs in cholesterol and fatty acid homeostasis and also insulin signalling (Davalos et al, 2011;Marquart et al, 2010; Najafi-Shoushtari et al, 2010; Rayner et al, 2010, 2011a). Cholesterol is a precursor in metabolic pathways and an important structural component in the cell membrane of most vertebrates. Notably, dysfunction in cholesterol homeostasis is linked tometabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and type-2 diabetes (Rayner et al, 2011b). In general, the cholesterol metabolism is a complex process which is regulated mainly by