MR suppresses pyruvate kinase via induction of miRNA-186-5p, miRNA-95, and miRNA-338-3p, the last in turn suppresses PKLR (miR-338-3p-PKLR axis), thereby reducing Wartburg effect by disabling glycolysis, inducing lactate pathway and blocking hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) proliferation (stopping cell cycle at G1 phase, downregulation of PCNA, apoptosis induction by CASP9 upregulation). The gene discussed is CASP9; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.