**1. Introduction**

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Applications

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329(5995):p1068-71.

Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108(14):p5667-72.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) form a class of endogenously expressed small, non-coding RNAs, that play key roles in the regulation of gene expression of a broad spectrum of biological processes. However, in the field of toxinology, a science of naturally occurring toxins, the relationship between toxicity and microRNA expression is poorly understood. Microcystins (MCs) are potent cyclic peptide hepatotoxins produced by cyanobacteria, which pose a seri‐ ous threat to aquatic organisms and may also affect human health through the consumption of contaminated waters or food. Although a number of cell physiologic pathways, potential targets for miRNA regulation, are implicated in the response to MCs in animals, no research so far investigated the role for miRNA genes in the mechanism of microcystin (MC)-induced toxicity in fish. The chapter aims to summarize recent achievements of our team in the field, focusing on expression profiling *in vivo* of liver microRNA levels of whitefish (*Coregonus lav‐ aretus*) following MC-LR exposure.
