Fig. 2. Psoriatic scores were worsened because of blocking connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in imiquimod (IMQ)-treated mice. BALB/c mice were treated daily with IMQ cream on shaved back skin and the left ear. One day before IMQ application, 200 µg of anti-CTGF monoclonal antibody was intraperitoneally injected (n=4~6 per groups). (A) Representative skin condition of anti-CTGF treated and untreated mice. These photos were taken on day 5 after IMQ application. (B) Erythema, scaling, and thickness of back skin was scored daily using a scale from 0 to 4; the cumulative score (0~12) is depicted. Symbols indicate mean score+standard deviation (n=4~6). ^**p<0.01, ^***p<0.001, ^****p<0.0001, by 2-way ANOVA (IMQ[+] vs. IMQ[+], anti-CTGF). (C) Epidermal and dermal thicknesses were measured in back skin samples. (D) Epidermal thickness in ear samples. (E) Immunohistochemically staining of Ki-67 (green) in back skin. Nuclei were stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (blue); bar: 50 µm. Yellow line represents the border between the epidermis and dermis. (F) Scatterplot of epidermal Ki-67⁺ cell number. ^*p<0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test (IMQ[+] vs. IMQ[+], anti-CTGF).