GJB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Shifts in overall connexin abundance, but predominantly its loss, is associated with tissue malignization under the action of various transforming factors, such as metabolic disorders, inflammation, bacterial infection, etc. Thus, non-alcoholic hepatosteatosis can be accompanied by the down-regulated expression of Cx32 which eventually causes liver fibrosis and is followed by hepatocellular carcinoma [142].