Figure 1. Characterization of human primary skin fibroblasts and HCV receptor expression.

Human fibroblasts, isolated from skin of healthy donors were analysed (A) by phase contrast optical microscopy to assess their morphology (B) by IFA to detect vimentin expression and (C) by western blot analysis to detect the expression of vimentin (mesenchymal marker) and the lack of K19 (epithelial marker). (D) The expression of the putative HCV receptors CD81, SR-B1 and LDLr was investigated by western blotting using THP-1 cells as control.