Immunocytochemical characterization and identification of SGE1, a rat glomerular epithelial cell line

Glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) in culture facilitate the study of glomerular physiology and pathology. However, characterization and identification of GECs in culture have been difficult due to the absence of markers specific to them. We compared the immunocytochemical characteristics of a rat normal GEC line (SGE1) and glomerular cells from rat kidney sections using a lectin and commercially available and newly raised monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Antivimentin, anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV (gp 108) and monoclonal antibody 5-1-6 antibodies and Limax flavus lectin bound to visceral GECs, anticytokeratin antibody and antibody against common acute lymphocytic leukemia antigen bound to parietal GECs, and anti-SGE1 cell membrane and monoclonal antibody PHM 5 antibodies bound to both visceral GECs and parietal GECs in normal rat kidney sections, and all of these antibodies and L. flavus lectin consistently bound to SGE1 cells in culture. The pattern of antigenic expression on SGE1 cells indicates that SGE1 cells possess phenotypic characteristics of visceral GECs and parietal GECs, and it further suggests that SGE1 cells may be stem cells or cells undergoing differentiation.