Abstract: Biliary atresia (BA), an inflammatory sclerosing cholangiopathy, is the leading cause of cholestasis in infants. Pathologic features of BA include progressive inflammation and intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct fibrosis. BA is characterized by rapid liver fibrosis. The activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is most important in liver fibrosis. Many mechanisms are involved in this process. miRNA can promote the activation of HSC through a variety of signaling pathways by regulating the expression of target gene, then playing a regulatory role in the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). A lot of literatures show that PI3K/Akt is closely related to the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is involved in the activation of HSC proliferation and apoptosis. MiRNA activates PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through various target genes, and then activates HSC to promote the development of liver fibrosis. In this paper, the miRNA related to biliary atresia of liver fibrosis is summarized.

Key words: microRNAs, biliary atresia, liver cirrhosis, astrocytes, review