Effect of Wip1 siRNA on expression of apoptotic markers in SKOV3 cells. (A) The mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and p53 were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in SKOV3 cells transfected with Wip1 siRNA and control untransfected cells (n=6). Results are plotted relative to the control. (B) The protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-3 and p53 were analyzed by western blot (n=6 repeats). Results for p53 are plotted relative to β-actin, and for the other proteins as ratios of Bax/Bcl-2 expression and of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 expression. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs. Control. Wip1, wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1; siRNA, small interfering RNA; Bax, BCL2 associated X; Bcl-2, BCL2 apoptosis regulator; p53, tumour protein 53; N-siRNA, non-targeting siRNA.