Establishment and characterization of an immature epithelial cell line (ENU-T-1) derived from a rat nephroblastoma

A new cell line designated ENU-T-1 has been established from a xenotransplanted experimental rat nephroblastoma. The cultured cells are spindle-shaped or polygonal and are arranged in a wavy fashion morphologically similar to cultured embryonal renal epithelial cells. The cells exhibit a number of epithelial characteristics. Enzyme histochemistry gives positive reactions for gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase, both of which are present in renal tubular epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence studies show positive reactions for vimentin and cytokeratin. When inoculated into athymic nude mice, the cultured cells form tumors composed of sheets of epithelial cells with focal tubular formation. This cell line may be of value in studying differentiation of nephroblastoma, and possibly normal nephrogenesis.