Fig. 4.

SARS-CoV-2 modulated the expression of viral entry receptor genes. (A) Ex vivo conjunctival tissues were immunostained for SARS-CoV-2 viral entry receptors ACE2, TMPRSS2, Axl, CD147, and NRP1. For negative control, the primary antibody was omitted and DAPI was used to stain nuclei. (B) The primary hCECs were immunostained for indicated viral entry receptors, nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. (C) hCECs isolated from three human donor cadaver eyes were infected with SARS-CoV-2 parental strain USA-WA1/2020 (MOI of 1) for indicated time points. qPCR analysis was performed to check the expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2, CD147, NRP1, and AXL genes. The experiment was performed in biological triplicates and technical duplicates and statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA; ns, non-significant; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001.