The JNK pathway has been implicated in regulating cellular stress response, apoptosis, malignant transformation and HCC carcinogenesis.34, 35 JNK activation for a long time will trigger apoptosis in some cell types.36, 37, 38, 39 Here, after DEN plus CCl4 or single CCl4 stimulation, persistent JNK activation displayed in liver tissues or in primary hepatocytes from gankyrinhep mice, accompanied by increased apoptosis of liver cells. This evidence concerns the gene MAPK8 and hepatocellular carcinoma.