Ribosome biogenesis: A central player in liver diseases

Abstract

Ribosome biogenesis is a multi-step process that initiates within the nucleolus, terminates in the cytoplasm, and determines the rate of protein synthesis. Ribosome biogenesis is essential for maintaining liver function. In eukaryotes, it involves producing and assembling approximately 200 factors and 80 ribosomal proteins. Mutations in ribosome proteins, ribosomal RNA processing, and ribosome assembly factors in the liver can result in liver disease. Hepatitis C virus causes acute or chronic infection and liver disease, which can progress to liver cirrhosis, cancer, and death. This review provides an overview of the effects of ribosomal biogenesis, including ribosomal RNA, ribosomal proteins, and ribosome biogenesis factors, on liver regeneration, hepatitis C virus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It lists drugs that exploit ribosome biogenesis to treat liver cancer. Targeting ribosome biogenesis shows promise as a therapeutic approach. A better understanding of this process will contribute to developing effective and targeted therapeutic strategies for ribosome biogenesis disorders.