To study the relationship between NFAT5 and DARS2 in HBV-associated HCC, we investigated the effect of HBV on NFAT5 and DARS expression using HepG2.2.15 cells carrying an integrated fragment of HBV genomic DNA and HepG2 cells that did not carry HBV genomic DNA. This evidence concerns the gene DARS2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.