Figure 1

Overexpression of recombinant TMPRSS2 in HEK293T cells. (A) pcDNA3.1 empty vector, pcDNA3.1^eGFP, or pcDNA3.1^TMPRSS2+His plasmids (top panel) used to transfect HEK293T cells. Photomicrograph of pcDNA3.1^eGFP transfected cells (HEK293T^eGFP) (bottom panel). Cell lysates were prepared and immunoblotted with (B) anti-His antibody or (C) anti-TMPRSS2 antibody. (D) Immunocytochemistry staining to detect TMPRSS2 in control (HEK293T^pcDNA3.1) and TMPRSS2–transfected HEK293T (HEK293T^TMPRSS2) cells. (E) Spontaneous TMPRSS2 activity using the fluorogenic substrate Boc-QAR-AMC as a function of time in the HEK293T^pcDNA3.1 and HEK293T^TMPRSS2 cells. Data shown are representative or triplicate means ± SEM of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 compared to HEK293T^pcDNA3.1 cells.