Table 1 miRNAs and the related immune responses and signaling pathways during hepatitis C virus infection

miR-122

JAK/STAT signaling

Stabilize the HCV RNA genome and stimulate virus replication

Predict response to therapy with IFN

Impede HCV entry into hepatocytes

[14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22]

miR-155

Wnt signaling

Tim-3 signaling

Enhance the development of inflammatory T-cells

Promote autoimmune inflammation

Regulate IFNr production from NK cells

Increase β-catenin nuclear localization in Huh7 cells

[23,24,25,26,27]

miR-146

TLR signaling

Regulate the inflammatory and immune responses

Correlate with cholesterol metabolism

[28]

miR-130a

JAK/STAT signaling

Inhibit IFITM1 and the subsequent innate immune response

Play dual roles in HCV replication by shaping the host innate immune response

[29, 30]

miR-21

TLR signaling

TGF-β1/SMADs signaling

Repress the expression of type I IFN and the subsequent anti-viral response

Target SMAD7

Stimulate the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

[18, 31, 32]

miR-181a

MAPK/ERK signaling

Decrease DUSP 6 expression and CD4⁺ T cell dysfunction

[34]

miR-27

PI3K/Akt signaling

Inhibit virus infection and promotes lipid storage

Enable the virus to escape immune surveillance

[35, 47]

miR-196

JAK/STAT signaling

Suppress Bach1 expression, stimulates HMOX1 expression, and inhibits HCV gene expression.

[36,37,38]

miR-125b

TLR signaling

Abolish the cytokine production

[39]

miR-19a

JAK/STAT signaling

Enhance IFNα and interleukin-6

[42]

miR-192

TGF-β1/SMADs signaling

Upregulate TGF-β1 expression

Mediate HCV infection-associated fibrogenesis

[44]

miR-152

Wnt signaling

Target the WNT1 3′-UTR

Regulate proliferation, G1-S transition, and colony formation in HepG2 cells

[45]

miR-491

PI3K/Akt signaling

Enhance HCV replication

[46]

miR-449a

NOTCH signaling

Inhibit TNFa-mediated activation of YKL40

[49]