Fig. 3

Anti-CTGF IgG mut-B2 ameliorated progression of arthritis in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. (A) Timeline of anti-CTGF IgG mut-B2 and control IgG intervention in CIA mice. (n = 10 per group). (B) Clinical scores of CIA mice treated with control IgG or IgG mut-B2. Two independent observers who were unaware of the mice’s treatment examined their arthritis severity every 3 days. The scores were determined as follows: 0: no erythema or swelling, 1: erythema and mild swelling limited to the tarsals or ankle joint, 2: erythema and mild swelling extending from the ankle to the tarsals, 3: erythema and moderate swelling extending from the ankle to the metatarsal joints, 4: erythema and severe swelling encompassing the ankle, paw, and digits, or ankylosis of the limb. Statistical significance was determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA) of repeated measurements. (n = 10 per group). (C) Articular tissues of CIA mice were stained by H&E and toluidine blue. Expression of CD31 in paraffin sections of synovium samples of CIA mice was determined by IHC analysis. (D) Histological scores of CIA mice based on analysis of synovial hyperplasia, cartilage and bone erosion, and inflammatory cell infiltration shown in (C). (E) Intergrated density of CD31 expression in synovial tissues of CIA mice. (F) Concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17 A, IL-10 in serum of CIA mice were detected by ELISA. (n = 10 per group). All reactions were conducted in triplicate and data were presented with mean ± SD.