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Peter Balogh

Name of the laboratory

Logo University of Pecs
Department of Immunology and Biotechnology
Clinical Center, University of Pecs
H-7634 Pecs, Szigeti ut 12
Hungary

Members of the laboratory

Group leader
Dr. Peter Balogh, MD, PhD balogh.peter@pte.hu
Postdoctoral scientist/resident
Dr. Zoltan Kellermayer, MD kellermayer.zoltan@pte.hu
PhD student
Dora Vojkovics Medical Biotechnology MSc vojkovics.dora@pte.hu
Research associate
Diana Heidt heidt.diana@pte.hu
Research technicians
Anett Gyöngyösi gyongyosi.anett@pte.hu
Janos Appl appljanos@gmail.com

Laboratory activity

The Department of Immunology and Biotechnology (formerly "Immunological and Biotechnological Laboratory") was established in 1991 by Dr. Peter Nemeth as an independent teaching, research and diagnostic unit of the University Medical School of Pécs. This unit was dedicated to pursue its own research in basic and applied immunology, particularly to produce monoclonal antibodies for research and diagnostic purposes, now headed by Dr. Timea Berki.

The research interest of Dr Peter Balogh’s group focuses on the structure, organization and developmental features of the stromal constituents of peripheral lymphoid tissues and their role in lymphocyte homeostasis, particularly the role of Nkx2-3 transcription factor in the spleen and Peyer’s patches of mice. In this work several rat monoclonal antibodies have been generated against both hematopoietic and stromal cells (fibroblastic reticular cells, marginal zone macrophages, various endothelial subsets). Current investigations are conducted to study the impact of Nkx2-3 on the onset of inflammatory bowel diseases in various murine models and the mechanism of lymphoid tissue-specific tropism in B-cell lymphoma progression.

Research activities

Analysis of stromal constituents in either mouse of human lymphoid tissues significantly lags behind the extensive knowledge concerning the diverse spectrum of hematopoietic elements, despite recent advances using lineage tracing and fate mapping experiments. Furthermore, it remains questionable to what extent the developmental and functional characteristics in mice can be relevant to humans. Recently Nkx2-3 has emerged as an important element in organizing the stromal scaffolding in mouse spleen and Peyer’s patches, and it may influence perturbed gut immunity in humans leading to various forms of inflammatory bowel diseases. To study the role of Nkx2-3 transcription factor, Nkx2-3-deficient mice (developed by Oliver Pabst at the Technical University of Braunschweig) have been used in various compound mutations (Ltbr-/-, Rag2-/- and now in variants allowing lymphocyte distribution analysis through Luc and photoconvertible KikGR detection) are investigated. We found that the absence of this factor essentially reprograms the spleen and Peyer’s patches vasculature towards lymph node-like pattern, including the formation of ectopic HEVs expressing PNAd and abortive LYVE-1-positive lymphatic cysts. More recently, we studied the effect of Nkx2-3 mutation on the intestinal distribution of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) and the stromal composition of murine mucosal lymphoid tissues. In this work, we use multiparametric flow cytometry, adoptive cell transfer and bone marrow chimeric animals as well as four-color immunofluorescent analysis of the mucosal lymphoid compartments and qPCR for mRNA expression.

Using a spontaneous high-grade B-cell lymphoma that arose in BALB/c mouse we identified a novel form of serosal lymphoid organoids, which we termed foliate lymphoid aggregates (FLAgs). These structures possess partial lymphoid compartmentalization into T/B zones, and show an intense capacity to immobilize peritoneal B cells and B-cell lymphoma cells.

Techniques available

  • Rat and mouse monoclonal antibody production, antibody purification and labeling (FITC, Cy dyes, biotinylation, HRPO), immunoprecipitation, Western blot, ELISA;
  • Multicolor (up to 4 colors) immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry (PO, AP and dual labeling), lectin-immunohistochemistry;
  • Flow cytometry and sorting (FACSCalibur, FACSCanto, FACSAria);
  • Lymphocyte adoptive transfer and tracing, bone marrow radiation chimeras, interspecies (rat x mouse) chimeras, Luc detection and access to bioluminescent imager, and KikGR photoconversion.

Publications (2021-present)

  • Jia X, Gábris F, Jacobsen Ó, Bedics G, Botz B, Helyes Z, Kellermayer Z, Vojkovics D, Berta G, Nagy N, Jakus Z, Balogh P. Foliate Lymphoid Aggregates as Novel Forms of Serous Lymphocyte Entry Sites of Peritoneal B Cells and High-Grade B Cell Lymphomas. J Immunol. 2020 204:23-36.
  • Vojkovics D, Kellermayer Z, Gábris F, Schippers A, Wagner N, Berta G, Farkas K, Balogh P. Differential Effects of the Absence of Nkx2-3 and MAdCAM-1 on the Distribution of Intestinal Type 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells and Postnatal SILT Formation in Mice. Front Immunol. 2019 10:366. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00366.
  • Kellermayer Z, Vojkovics D, Dakah TA, Bodó K, Botz B, Helyes Z, Berta G, Kajtár B, Schippers A, Wagner N, Scotto L, O'Connor OA, Arnold HH, Balogh P. IL-22-Independent Protection from Colitis in the Absence of Nkx2.3 Transcription Factor in Mice. J Immunol. 2019 202:1833-1844.
  • Boros É, Kellermayer Z, Balogh P, Strifler G, Vörös A, Sarlós P, Vincze Á, Varga C, Nagy I. Elevated Expression of AXL May Contribute to the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients. Mediators Inflamm. 2018 doi: 10.1155/2018/3241406.
  • Vojkovics D, Kellermayer Z, Kajtár B, Roncador G, Vincze Á, Balogh P. Nkx2-3-A Slippery Slope From Development Through Inflammation Toward Hematopoietic Malignancies. Biomark Insights. 2018 doi:10.1177/1177271918757480.
  • Kellermayer Z, Vojkovics D, Balogh P. Innate lymphoid cells and their stromal microenvironments. Immunol Lett. 2017 189:3-9.
  • Robles EF, Mena-Varas M, Barrio L, Merino-Cortes SV, Balogh P, Du MQ, Akasaka T, Parker A, Roa S, Panizo C, Martin-Guerrero I, Siebert R, Segura V, Agirre X, Macri-Pellizeri L, Aldaz B, Vilas-Zornoza A, Zhang S, Moody S, Calasanz MJ, Tousseyn T, Broccardo C, Brousset P, Campos-Sanchez E, Cobaleda C, Sanchez-Garcia I, Fernandez-Luna JL, Garcia-Muñoz R, Pena E, Bellosillo B, Salar A, Baptista MJ, Hernandez-Rivas JM, Gonzalez M, Terol MJ, Climent J, Ferrandez A, Sagaert X, Melnick AM, Prosper F, Oscier DG, Carrasco YR, Dyer MJ, Martinez-Climent JA. Homeobox NKX2-3 promotes marginal-zone lymphomagenesis by activating B-cell receptor signalling and shaping lymphocyte dynamics. Nat Commun. 2016 7:11889. doi: 10.1038/ncomms11889.
  • Vojkovics D, Kellermayer Z, Heidt D, Mihalj M, Kajtár B, Ernszt D, Kovács T, Németh P, Balogh P. Isolation and Characterization of a Murine Spontaneous High-Grade Follicular Lymphoma with Restricted In Vivo Spreading--a Model for Lymphatic Metastasis Via the Mesentery. Pathol Oncol Res. 2016 22:421-30.
  • Kellermayer Z, Hayasaka H, Kajtár B, Simon D, Robles EF, Martinez-Climent JA, Balogh P. Divergence of Vascular Specification in Visceral Lymphoid Organs-Genetic Determinants and Differentiation Checkpoints. Int Rev Immunol. 2016 35:489-502.
  • Schneider Z, Jani PK, Szikora B, Végh A, Kövesdi D, Iliás A, Cervenak J, Balogh P, Kurucz I, Kacskovics I. Overexpression of Bovine FcRn in Mice Enhances T-Dependent Immune Responses by Amplifying T Helper Cell Frequency and Germinal Center Enlargement in the Spleen. Front Immunol. 2015 6:357. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2015.00357.
  • Kellermayer Z, Mihalj M, Lábadi Á, Czömpöly T, Lee M, O'Hara E, Butcher EC, Berta G, Balogh A, Arnold HH, Balogh P. Absence of Nkx2-3 homeodomain transcription factor reprograms the endothelial addressin preference for lymphocyte homing in Peyer's patches. J Immunol. 2014 193: 5284-93.
  • Kellermayer Z, Fisi V, Mihalj M, Berta G, Kóbor J, Balogh P. Marginal Zone Macrophage Receptor MARCO Is Trapped in Conduits Formed by Follicular Dendritic Cells in the Spleen. J Histochem Cytochem. 2014 62:436-449.
  • Mihalj M, Kellermayer Z, Balogh P. Follicles in gut-associated lymphoid tissues create preferential survival niches for follicular Th cells escaping Thy-1-specific depletion in mice. Int Immunol. 2013 25:423-35.
  • Shah AA, Mihalj M, Ratkay I, Lubka-Pathak M, Balogh P, Klingel K, Bohn E, Blin N, Baus-Loncar M. Increased susceptibility to Yersinia enterocolitica Infection of Tff2 deficient mice. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2012 30:853-62.
  • Szarka E, Neer Z, Balogh P, Adori M, Angyal A, Prechl J, Kiss E, Kövesdi D, Sármay G. Exacerbation of collagen induced arthritis by Fcγ receptor targeted collagen peptide due to enhanced inflammatory chemokine and cytokine production. Biologics. 2012 6:101-15.
  • Kellermayer Z, Lábadi A, Czömpöly T, Arnold HH, Balogh P. Absence of Nkx2-3 homeodomain transcription factor induces the formation of LYVE-1-positive endothelial cysts without lymphatic commitment in the spleen. J Histochem Cytochem. 2011 59:690-700.
  • Czömpöly T, Lábadi A, Kellermayer Z, Olasz K, Arnold HH, Balogh P. Transcription factor Nkx2-3 controls the vascular identity and lymphocyte homing in the spleen. J Immunol. 2011 186:6981-9.
  • Sipka S, Csípo I, Czömpöly T, Balogh P, Vadász G, Zeher M. Searching for antigen epitope specificities in the monoclonal IgG molecules of patients with multiple myeloma. The description of a monoclonal antibody with a dynein-specific antigen epitope character. Ann Hematol. 2011 90):1227-8.
  • Szekeres Z, Herbáth M, Angyal A, Szittner Z, Virág V, Balogh P, Erdei A, Prechl J. Modulation of immune response by combined targeting of complement receptors and low-affinity Fcgamma receptors. Immunol Lett. 2010 130:66-73.
  • Angyal A, Szekeres Z, Balogh P, Neer Z, Szarka E, Virag V, Medgyesi D, Prechl J, Sarmay G. CD16/32-specific biotinylated 2.4G2 single-chain Fv complexed with avidin-FITC enhances FITC-specific humoral immune response in vivo in a CD16-dependent manner. Int Immunol. 2010 22:71-80.
  • Kvell K, Czömpöly T, Hiripi L, Balogh P, Kóbor J, Bodrogi L, Pongrácz JE, Ritchie WA, Bosze Z. Characterisation of eGFP-transgenic BALB/c mouse strain established by lentiviral transgenesis. Transgenic Res. 2010 19:105-12.
  • Lábadi A, Balogh P. Differential preferences in serosal homing and distribution of peritoneal B-cell subsets revealed by in situ CFSE labeling. Int Immunol. 2009 21:1047-56.
  • Balogh P, Fisi V, Szakal AK. Fibroblastic reticular cells of the peripheral lymphoid organs: unique features of a ubiquitous cell type. Mol Immunol. 2008 46:1-7.