Fig. 3.

Ectopic expression of VLDLR increased HCV infection even under normoxic conditions. (A) Cells transfected with a VLDLR-expressing or empty plasmid were infected with Luc-HCVcc^JFH1 (MOI = 0.1). Luciferase activity was analyzed 48 h postinfection (average ± SD; n = 3). (B) Immunoblot of VLDLR and β-actin. (C) Huh7 cells transfected with VLDLR-expressing or empty plasmid were infected with HCVcc^JFH1 (MOI = 1). The cells were stained for NS5A (red) and VLDLR (green) 48 h postinfection. Images were analyzed by confocal microscopy. (Scale bars, 20 μm.) (D) Cells transfected with an empty or VLDLR-expressing plasmid were infected with luciferase-encoding pseudoparticles bearing the indicated envelopes. Luciferase activity was analyzed 72 h postinfection (average ± SD; n = 3). The data shown represent three independent experiments. ***P < 0.005 (Student’s t-test).