In a mouse model of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by the chemical carcinogen, diethylnitrosamine (DEN), liver specific knockout of FUNDC1 facilitates the cytosolic release of mtDNA due to a defect in mitophagy, resulting in an accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, an elevated release of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL1B and hyperproliferation of hepatocytes, finally culminating in the initiation and progression of DEN-induced HCC (Li et al., 2019). This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and hepatocellular carcinoma.