Primary outgrowth of human glomeruli containing mixed populations of epithelial cells, mesangial cells, and endothelial cells were infected with a recombinant adenovirus 5-simian virus 40. Foci of transfected cells arose which are being isolated and characterized. These cell lines all exhibit nuclear staining for the SV40 large T antigen. After multiple passage, their morphologic characteristics are similar to their non-transfected counterparts by immunofluorescence. Further phenotypic properties are being explored. Establishment of these lines will allow sufficient numbers of cells for study of human glomerular cell function.
