Fig 1: HCV core protein and NS4B up-regulate protein expressions of ß-catenin and its target genes in Huh7 cells but not in LO2 cells. a Western blotting analysis of nuclear ß-catenin and cytoplasmic ß-catenin protein expressions in Huh7 cells. B23 and ß-tubulin were used as loading controls for the nuclear protein and cytoplasmic protein. b The relative protein expression level was a density ratio of each protein band relative to its loading control band. The density ratios of nuclear ß-catenin band to B23 band and cytoplasmic ß-catenin band to ß-tubulin band in Huh7 cells. Compared with Huh7-mkate2, **P < 0.01. c Western blotting analysis of protein expressions of Wnt1, c-myc, and cyclinD1 in Huh7 cells. ß-actin was used as a loading control for the total cellular protein. d The density ratios of Wnt1, c-myc, and cyclinD1 protein bands to ß-actin in Huh7 cells. Compared with Huh7-mkate2,**P < 0.01. e Western blotting analysis of protein expressions of nuclear ß-catenin and cytoplasmic ß-catenin in LO2 cells. B23 and ß-tubulin were used as loading controls for the nuclear protein and cytoplasmic protein. Analysis of the density ratios of nuclear ß-catenin band to B23 and cytoplasmic ß-catenin band to ß-tubulin in LO2 cells show that there was no significant difference in the relative protein expression levels of nuclear ß-catenin and cytoplasmic ß-catenin among LO2-Core, LO2-NS4B, and LO2-mkate2 (P > 0.05). f Western blotting analysis of protein expressions of Wnt1, c-myc, and cyclinD1 in LO2 cells. ß-actin was used as a loading control for the total cellular protein. Analysis of the density ratios of Wnt1, c-myc, and cyclinD1 protein bands to ß-actin in LO2 cells show that there was no significant difference in the relative protein expression levels of Wnt1, c-myc, and cyclinD1 among LO2-Core, LO2-NS4B, and LO2-mkate2 (P > 0.05)