The response of T-ALL cells and normal thymocytes to NS1619 and DHEA may also be influenced by differential expression/activity of IF1 (ATPase inhibitory factor 1), a mitochondrial protein that, by inhibiting the reverse activity of the ATP synthase, maintains ATP levels favoring cell survival under oxidative stress and inhibits ROS-induced OPA1 cleavage through inhibition of OMA1 activity40. Here, OPA1 is linked to acute lymphoblastic leukemia.