A significant reduction in the number of GFP-LC3 puncta was observed in the cytoplasm of the shEMP2 group compared to the control group, suggesting that downregulation of EMP2 expression in HepG2 and Huh-7 HCC cells substantially inhibits autophagy (Figs. 5E, 5F). The gene discussed is MAP1LC3A; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.