Fig. 4

Alterations of β-catenin and its phosphorylation in AECOPD. A The expression of β-catenin protein in plasma of control subjects (n = 23), patients with stable COPD (n = 17) and patients with AECOPD (n = 22) was analyzed by ELISA. Results are presented as protein concentration (mean ± SEM). B, C The expression of phosphorylated β-catenin protein in PBMC of control subjects (n = 5), patients with stable COPD (n = 5) and patients with AECOPD (n = 5) was analyzed by immunofluorescence. B Results are presented as relative number of positive p-β-catenin cells (mean ± SEM). C Immunofluorescent staining of PBMC. Green fluorescence represents positive phosphorylated β-catenin cells (red arrowheads). Blue fluorescence represents DAPI. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 by one-way ANOVA