SzSA YearBook 2016/17

SZENT-GYÖRGYI JUNIOR MENTORS
PETRA PALLAGI
First Department of Medicine,
University of Szeged
Address: Korányi fasor 8-10., H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
E: ignathne.pallagi.petra@med.u-szeged.hu
T: +36 62/545-677
RESEARCH AREA
Human pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDEC) produce
an alkaline fluid which is essential for normal digestion
and crucially important for the maintaining the integrity
of the pancreas. These secretory processes are regulated
by different intracellular mechanisms in which Ca 2+ plays
fundamental role. The function of pancreatic ductal fluid
and HCO 3
-
secretion plays a central role not just in the
physiology, but also in the pathophysiology of the pancreas.
Impaired pancreatic fluid and HCO 3
-
secretion can lead
to pancreatic damage and to the development of acute
pancreatitis. Receptor induced intracellular Ca 2+ release
plays fundamental role in the regulation of HCO 3
-
secretion,
however sustained intracellular Ca 2+ elevations in response
to toxic factors (such as bile acids, or alcohol metabolites)
inhibit secretory processes. The pathological elevation of
intracellular Ca 2+ concentration is one of the hallmarks of
the development of AP. Therefore, comprehensive analysis
of the physiological and pathophysiological Ca 2+ signalling
of PDEC is crucially important since it may offer potential
therapeutic targets in AP.
TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE IN THE LAB
Microspectrofluorimetry (intracellular H + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+
concentration), microperfusion of pancreatic ducts, measurement
of pancreatic ductal fluid secretion, patch clamp
technic, FRET technic, induction of acute pancreatitis in
animals, isolation of pancreatic acinar and ductal cells, measurement
of enzyme (amylase, trypsin, myeloperoxidase,
lacatate dehydrogenase) activities, confocal microscopy,
histological analysis, RT-PCR.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Maléth, J., Balázs, A., Pallagi P., Balla, Z., Kui, B., Katona,
M., Judák, L., Németh, I., Kemény, L.V., Rakonczay, Z. Jr,
Venglovecz, V., Földesi, I., Pető, Z., Somorácz, Á., Borka, K.,
Perdomo, D., Lukacs, G.L., Gray, M.A., Monterisi, S., Zaccolo,
M., Sendler, M., Mayerle, J., Kühn, J.P., Lerch, M.M., Sahin-Tóth,
M., Hegyi, P. (2015) Alcohol disrupts levels and function of
the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator
to promote development of pancreatitis. Gastroenterology
148: 427-439.
Maléth, J., Madácsy, T., Pallagi P, Balázs, A., Venglovecz, V.,
Rakonczay, Z. Jr, Hegyi, P. (2015) Pancreatic epithelial fluid
and bicarbonate secretion is significantly elevated in the
absence of peripheral serotonin. Gut 64: 1497-8.
Kui, B., Balla, Z., Végh, E.T., Pallagi P, Venglovecz, V., Iványi, B.,
Takács, T., Hegyi, P., Rakonczay, Z., Jr. (2014) Recent advances
in the investigation of pancreatic inflammation induced by
large doses of basic amino acids in rodents. Lab Invest 94:
138-149.
Pallagi, P., Balla, Z., Singh, A.K., Dósa, S., Iványi, B., Kukor,
Z., Tóth, A., Riederer, B., Liu, Y.J., Engelhardt, R., Jármay, K.,
Szabó, A., Janovszky, Á., Perides, G., Venglovecz, V., Maléth,
J., Wittmann, T., Takács, T., Gray, M.A., Gácser, A., Hegyi, P.,
Seidler, U., Rakonczay Jr., Z. (2014) The role of pancreatic
ductal secretion in protection against acute pancreatitis in
mice. Crit Care Med 42: e177-88.
Pallagi, P., Venglovecz, V., Rakonczay, Z., Borka, K.,
Korompay, A., Ózsvári, B., Judák, L., Sahin-Tóth, M., Geisz,
A., Schnúr, A., Maléth, J., Takács, T., Gray, M.A., Argent,
B.E., Mayerle, J., Lerch, M.M., Wittmann, T., Hegyi, P. (2011)
Trypsin reduces pancreatic ductal bicarbonate secretion by
inhibiting CFTR Cl- channels and luminal anion exchangers.
Gastroenterology 141: 2228-2239.
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