Fig. 1

Screening and identification of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) blocking single chain fragment variables (scFvs). (A) SDS-PAGE analysis of purified anti-CTGF scFvs with Coomassie blue staining. (B) Cell proliferation rate of HUVECs was evaluated by CCK-8 assay after being treated with recombinant human CTGF (50 nM) and purified anti-CTGF scFvs (50 nM) for 8 h. HUVECs untreated (White bar) and HUVECs only treated with CTGF (Black bar) were used as controls. Formula used to calculate the cell proliferation rate is shown in Methods. (C) Inhibition rate of CTGF-induced cell proliferation. Cell viability of HUVECs was evaluated by CCK-8 assay after being treated with recombinant human CTGF (50 nM) and scFv B2 or scFv D6 in increasing concentrations (1-500 nM). HUVECs only treated with CTGF (Grey dot) were used as control. Formula used to calculate the inhibition rate is shown in Methods