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. 2021 Jun 3;4:682. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02220-z

Fig. 1. Ectopic expression of SARS-CoV-2 proteins induces KSHV lytic gene expression and ACE2 expression is increased in AIDS-KS tissues.

Fig. 1

a The iSLK.219 cells were transfected with vector control or vectors encoding SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S), nucleocapsid protein (N) and KSHV RTA (as a positive control) with or without low dose of doxycycline (Dox, 0.1 µg/mL) induction for 72 h. The expression of RFP (representing viral lytic reactivation) and GFP (representing infected cells) were detected using fluorescence microscopy. Error bars represent S.D. for 4 image fields per well. b, c BCP-1 cells were transfected as above with or without low dose of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 1.0 ng/mL) induction for 72 h, then the transcripts of representative lytic genes were quantified by using qRT-PCR. The supernatants from transfected cells were collected to infect naive HEK293T cells, then viral genome levels were quantified by using qPCR with Lana-specific primers. Error bars represent S.D. for 3 independent experiments, **p < 0.01 (vs the vector control). d Expression of ACE2 and LANA (as well as representative IgG control) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded KS tissues from 3 HIV+ patients and normal skin tissues were determined by immunohistochemical staining as described in the “Methods”. Bars: 50 μm.