Researchers co-cultured DCs with secreted alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in hepatocellular carcinoma and found that expression of SREBP-1 and PGC1-α decreased and down-regulated fatty acid synthesis, mitochondrial metabolism and the basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR), which led to DC dysfunction and immunosuppression [126], emphasizing the potential of AFP as a target for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, PPARGC1A is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.