cfa-mir-122: Cfa-mir-122 is a microRNA (miRNA) that is highly enriched in the liver and has been implicated in the regulation of various genes and biological processes in dogs [PMC4989286]. This miRNA has been shown to down-regulate erythropoietin (epo), potentially affecting red blood cell maturation and leading to anemia symptoms in puppies [PMC9773451]. It is one of the differentially expressed miRNAs that can regulate a significant number of potential target genes, indicating its role in gene expression modulation [PMC9773451]. In serum miRNA analysis, cfa-mir-122 has been identified as a potential biomarker for liver function, with its expression levels significantly elevated compared to control animals [PMC4989286]. Furthermore, cfa-mir-122 demonstrates high diagnostic performance for early detection of mild hepatic steatosis, outperforming traditional biochemical parameters like ALT [PMC7356535]. It was the only miRNA significantly upregulated across all examined canine portosystemic shunt (CPSS) groups compared to controls, suggesting its utility as a non-invasive biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity for reflecting liver pathology [PMC7356535]. The diagnostic potential of cfa-mir-122 is further supported by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with an area under the curve (AUC) indicating excellent diagnostic accuracy for differentiating diseased groups from healthy controls [PMC7356535].