The aim of this course is to provide the students with knowledge about fundamental concepts of the main pharmacological classes, the basic concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, correlated to the study and the development of new drugs, and the methodologies of pharmacological experimentation. The course will be focused to study cellular molecular mechanisms of the action of drugs, deepening their receptorial mechanisms and signal transduction. Moreover, the course will underline the progresses, obtained using new technologies, molecular biology and biotechnology, towards the investigation of innovative pharmaceuticals molecules and the finding of new therapeutic targets.
At the end of the course, the student will know:
The activities performed during the Pharmacology Laboratory aim to favour the development of the scientific skills necessary for selecting tests and experimental models useful for evaluating drug activity. Specifically, the learning objectives are focused on providing knowledge about the most relevant methods for the developing of an experimental study in the field of preclinical pharmacology and for the analysis the results obtained.
Pharmacology course will comprise 5 CFU, organized as 32 hours of frontal teaching and 16 hours of laboratory practice. According to the didactic rules of the Medical-pharmaceutical Biotechnology Master course, the frequency is mandatory. Laboratory activities will be delivered by teacher collaborators to small student groups, following a schedule that will be communicated, to favor the individual participation to the activities.
All laboratory activities will be preceded by a theoretic introduction about the relevance of the techniques analyzed, and will be focused on the use basic and innovative approaches in pharmacological research.
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the lecturer and the School/Departmental Disability Liaison at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching modalities that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns.
1) GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY
Introduction to pharmacology and its sub-branches, definition of drug and toxic agent, active component and excipient. Cell diversity as main target of the action of the drugs. Drug development and drug repositioning. Pharmacognosy
2) PHARMACOKINETICS
a) Different routes of drug administration, absorption of drugs and the conditions that may modulate it, bioavailability and bioequivalence. Drug distribution and redistribution
b) Drug metabolism: phase 1 e phase 2 enzymes. Drug excretion and its modulation, individual factors that may modify the responses to the drugs
3) MECHANISM OF ACTION OF THE DRUGS
a) DRUG-RECEPTOR INTERACTION
Qualitative and quantitative characteristics – gradual and quantal responses, the concept of receptor affinity, Bmax, intrinsic activity, efficacy, and potency - techniques to measure receptor density, saturation curves, Scatchard analysis to determine Bmax and Kd, concentration-effect curves, up e down-regulation – agonism e antagonism – structure-activity relationship – biased agonism therapeutic index)
b) DRUG EFFECTS
Receptor- and non-receptor-mediated mechanisms. Different receptor classes. ADRs,
Pharmacoallergy, idiosyncrasy, tolerance, dependence, pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics.
4) DRUG MOLECULAR TARGETS
General and Molecular Pharmacology: Principles of Drug Action. English Edition; a cura di Francesco Clementi, Guido Fumagalli, Christiano Chiamulera, Emilio Clementi, Riccardo Fesce, Wiley Ed.
Moreover, all the slides used during the frontal lessons will be made available via Aulaweb site, before the respective lesson.
Ricevimento: All the days, after appointament (tel 010-3538806, e-mail: tullio.florio@unige.it) in the office at the ex-Institute ph Pharmacology, viale Benedetto XV num 2.
ERNESTO FEDELE (President)
TULLIO FLORIO (President)
ALESSANDRO CORSARO
MASSIMO GRILLI
CAROLA TORAZZA
October.
PHARMACOLOGY AND LABORATORY
The exam will be held as oral interogation about the topics discussed during the course.
Students can choose among 3 sessions during the winter semester (January and february) and 4 sessions in the summer one (June, July and September).
The exam will be performed by students' presentation of the topics reported in the syllabus and discussed during the frontal lessons. In depth analyses and relationship with other topics can be requested. The discussion will have the goal to assess the not only the level of knowledge gained by the student but also its ability to critically analyze the main pharmacology-related issues.
