Figure 2.

Excess β-catenin promotes IFNγ-induced apoptosis. HepG2 cells were transfected with plasmid expressing GFP (GFP), active β-catenin (β-catenin pcDNA)or its cognate vector (Mock). The transfected cells were then treated with or without IFNγ (100 ng/ml) for 48 h, and levels of activated (A) caspase 3, (B) caspase 8 and (C) caspase 9 were tested by flow cytometry. In HepG2 cells overexpressing active β-catenin, (D) p53 and (E) Bcl-XL levels were determined by flow cytometry. ^*P<0.05 compared with corresponding untreated cells. IFN, interferon.