Also, the ex vivo infection of living human PCLS with SARS-CoV-2 (viral infection analyzed by NSP7 qRT-PCR, Fig 3H) led to an upregulation of COX-2 expression compared with non-infected control slices, while HPGD mRNA levels were unchanged and PGE synthase (PTGES) expression tended to be increased (Fig 3I–3K). This evidence concerns the gene HPGD and infection.