FIGURE 4.

ANGPTL4 expression is elevated in IMQ-induced psoriasiform dermatitis in mice. IMQ or control cream (vaseline) was applied daily to the dorsal skin for female BALB/c mice. (A) Phenotypical presentation of mouse back skin and light microscopy examination of skin sections stained with H&E after 7 days of control cream (upper panel) or IMQ treatment (lower panel). Scale bars, 50 μm. (B) The skin thickness was measured on day 8. Significant differences are indicated (n = 5). (C) Daily assessment of epidermal erythema, scales, and thickeness of the shaved backs. PASI score was calculated to assess the severity of psoriasis by adding the scores of three criteria (range from 0 to 12). (D,E) Representative immunoblotting and analysis of ANGPTL4 from skin samples of control cream or IMQ treated mice on day 8 (n = 6). (F) Relative mRNA expression of ANGPTL4 in IMQ treatment mice and control cream on day 8 (n = 5). (G,H) Representative immunohistochemical stainings and quantification of ANGPTL4 in skin sections (n = 5). Scale bars, 50 μm. (I,J) Representative images and quantification of ANGPTL4 fluorescence in skin sections. The nuclei were detected by DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 50 μm. All data were shown as mean ± standard deviation (SD). IMQ, imiquimod; H&E, haematoxylin and eosin; IOD, the integral optical density. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. CON group.