It is likely that hepatic cell death during the early stage of viral hepatitis is triggered by the UPR-induced apoptosis mediated by intracellular accumulation of misfolded NCoR as shown by us previously in APL cells (15), while the autophagic degradation of misfolded N-CoR protein may facilitate the revival of surviving hepatic cells, which eventually could lead to the development of HCC after a long latent period. The gene discussed is NCOR1; the disease is viral hepatitis.