AKT1 and neoplasm: It has been reported that β-catenin is an important mediator of the classical Wnt pathway and plays an important role in the tumour growth.27 Lee et al. reported that inhibitor of DNA binding 3 mediated X-ray-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes through down-regulation of endogenous β-catenin level in HaCaT keratinocytes.28 Selenite could induce apoptosis through reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent inhibition of AKT/b-catenin signaling pathway.29 We speculate that the increased apoptosis of CD90+ HepG2 cells may be attributed to the decreased β-catenin following miR-548c-5p transfection.