Figure 3: CD209L mediates SARS-CoV-2 entry and infection in endothelial cells.

(A) HUVEC-TERT cells expressing control shRNA or CD209L-shRNA (2 × 10⁴/well, 96-well plate, and triplicate/group) were infected with different amounts of SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped lentivirus. After 24 h, cells were processed and subjected to luciferase activity and representative data are shown. (B) HUVEC-TERT cells expressing control shRNA or CD209L-shRNA seeded in chamber slides (triplicate/group) were infected with SARS-CoV-2 at the indicated MOIs. Cells were fixed at one day post infection, and stained with an antibody directed against the viral nucleoprotein, N (green). Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Quantification of N protein positive cells is shown. P<0.05. (C) Western blot analysis showing expression of CD209L, CD209 and ACE2. (D) HEK-293 cells expressing CD209L, CD209 or ACE2 (2 × 10⁴/well, 96-well plated, and quadruple wells/group) were infected with pseudotyped virus (10 ng/ml) or mock virus. After 24 h, cells were analyzed for luciferase activity. #, P<0.05.