HBx has been also shown to enhance DNMT1 and DNMT3A recruitment to the promoter to silence the expression of the ankyrin-repeat-containing, SH3-domain-containing, and proline-rich-region-containing protein family 2 (ASPP2)—a mediator of p53 and p53 family member apoptosis—that is downregulated in HCC cell lines and in the livers of HBV-related HCC patients [53]. Here, DNMT1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.