The SVI cell line has been cloned from the outgrowth of glomeruli which were isolated from H-2kb-tsA58 transgenic mice. The mice carry a temperature-sensitive variant of the SV40 large T antigen under control of the IFN-g-inducible H-2kb promoter. Cells proliferate at 33°C, and they differentiate at 37°C. At present, the cells have been cultured successfully for more than 40 passages without noting phenotypic changes. SVI are very similar to E11 in terms of morphology and the expression of several markers. For example, podocin and WT1 are expressed to a lesser extent as compared to E11.The species was confirmed by Real-Time PCR.
