Specifically, knockdown of SIRT5 by siRNA results in the upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins caspase 3 (CASP3), PARP, and Bax while the apoptotic suppressor B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) is downregulated, suggesting that the mitochondrial deacetylase activity of SIRT5 inhibits apoptosis in HCC cells [185]. Here, CASP3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.