MTERF3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: To address whether p38 MAPK signaling pathway involved in MTERF3-mediated cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis, a specific siRNA against to p38 or a p38 inhibitor, SB203580, were used to reverse the p38 MAPK activation induced by MTERF3 knockdown in HCC cells (Fig. 5b, c).