OVERVIEW

he lessons contained in the course of General Pathology and Immunology are intended to provide a biotechnology student with a general picture of the defense methods implemented by our immune system against etiologic agents and neoplasms. The course also analyzes the pathogenetic mechanisms of inflammatory response and neoplastic transformation.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of the main mechanisms underlying the inflammatory process and the neoplastic transformation. In-depth knowledge of the main molecular and cellular mechanisms of the immune response (natural and adaptive) against pathogens and tumors. Knowledge of hypersensitivity reactions and related conditions.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The part of General Pathology gives in-depth knowledge on the inflammatory process The concepts of angioflogosis and histoflogosis will be defined and characterized. Important aspects of general oncology will be addressed, such as the definitions of oncogene, tumor marker and metastasis. The classification of tumors on the basis of behavior, histogenesis, grading and staging will be defined.

About Immunology, the physiology of the immune system and the peculiar feature of innate and adaptive immune response will be deeply characterized. Finally, some of the principal pathological aspects of immune system will be described.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY

- The inflammatory process

Definition and causes of angioflogosis

Active and passive hyperemia: causes and consequences

Inflammatory oedema: causes and different exudates

Cellular and plasmatic mediators

Histoflogosis: pathogenesis and classification

Tissue repair

Hints on tuberculosis and syphilis

-General oncology

Modern definition of neoplasia

Cancer cells: atypical morphology, metabolism and behavior

Main concepts of tumor marker

Initiation, promotion and progression in carcinogenesis

Metastasis: definition and implications of tumor spread

Oncogenes: definition of and their mechanisms of activation

Hints on genetic predisposition to cancer

Causes of cancer: physical, chemical and biological factors

Classification of tumors on the basis of: behavior (malignant/benign), histogenesis, grading and staging

IMMUNOLOGY

The Immune System: Cells and Tissues of the Immune System.

General features of the Innate and Adaptive  Immune response.

The Innate Immunity Receptors. The Complement System. 

Natural Killer Cells (NK). Dendritic Cells (Myeloid and Plasmacitoid).

The Adaptive Immune Response. Clonal selection Theory. 

Origin and maturation of T and B lymphocytes. The Antigen receptors gene rearrangement (Immunoglobulin and T Cell receptors)

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) . The antigen processing and presentation to T Lymphocytes.

Activation of T Lymphocytes. Effector mechanisms of Cell mediated Immunity. Cytotoxic and Helper T cells subpopulations

B cell activation and Antibody production. The effector mechanisms of Humoral Immunity

The Cytokines.

Immunity to Pathogens. Mucosal Immunity. The Hypersensitivity Reactions. The immunity to tumors

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Molecular Pathology: G.M. Pontieri, Elementi di patologia generale per i corsi di Laurea in Professioni Sanitarie. III Edizione PICCIN.

Immunology: P.Parham, Il sistema Immunitario, EdiSes; AK Abbas, AH Lichtmann, Le basi dell’Immunologia, ELSEVIER.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARIA CRISTINA MINGARI (President)

GABRIELLA PIATTI (President)

GABRIELLA PIETRA (President)

ROBERTA RICCIARELLI (President)

EXAMS

Exam schedule