Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:The IRE1-ASK1-JNK signalling pathway is also a cell death pathway, because JNK-mediated phosphorylation has been known to activate the pro-apoptotic BCl-2 family member BIM, while inhibiting the antiapoptotic protein BCl-2 [23,24].
Category: