LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the course is to provide the principles underlie to a) organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, b) main features of autoimmune diseases. This aim focusing on in vitro assays to evaluate donor-recipient compatibility and biological parameters indicating: graft rejection and GVHD, diagnosis and progression of  autoimmune disease.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main aim of the course is to describe and analyze in detail a) the molecular mechanisms underlying the graft versus host compatibility in the organ or the hematopoietic stem cells graft; b) the laboratory methods applied to determine this compatibility and the biochemical/molecular features of incompatibility reactions after the organ or hematopoietic stem cells graft (i.e. graft versus host disease and graft reaction); c) pathogenetic mechanisms of systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases; d) humoral and cellular parameters altered in autoimmune diseases.

The student has a) to know the reason why there is the graft versus host incompatibility, graft versus host reaction or graft rejection; b) to identify the methods applied to evaluate biological parameters during the above-mentioned reactions; c) to know the serum parameters and the methods to evaluate these parameters during systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases; d) to identify on the basis of a specific parameter the autoimmune disease and in which phase, among those analyzed in the program, may be present.

It is important that the student knows the basic principles of immune responses, the phenotype and function of T and B lymphocytes as well as antigen-presenting cells. Indeed, Innate and adaptive immune reactions are involved in autoimmune disorders and in all the reactions that may follow to organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cells infusion.

TEACHING METHODS

Classroom-taught lectures, queries and replies on the next lesson, problem-based learning. This can be achieved also by the Teams informatics platform where the students can find recorded lessons in the section of the "materiale del corso" in the course specific team..

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Organ and bone marrow transplantation, markers of transplant rejection, graft versus host disease (GVHD), methods to assess donor-recipient compatibility, methods to assess biological parameters during graft rejection and GVHD, basic principle of auto-reactivity, autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases, organ specific autoimmune diseases, autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease, systemic autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, methods to assess biological parameters and diagnose autoimmune diseases.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lectures notes will be made available to all students via Aulaweb. Recorded previous courses will be present on the Teams platform in the specific Team.  Some topic can be further analyzed on the following text references:Roitt's Essential Immunology, 13th Editiondi Peter J. Delves, Seamus J. Martin, Dennis R. Burton, Ivan M. Roitt; ISBN: 978-1-118-41577-1, 576 pages, January 2017,Wiley-Blackwell; and on the site: http://www.roitt.com/; Janeway’sImmunobiologyEdition: 9th Author(s): Kenneth Murphy, Casey Weaver, Garland Science editor ISBN:9780815345053 Publication Date:March 28, 2016 Content Details: 904 pages | 621 illustrations, Language: English. Hematology, Basic Principles and Practice, Expert Consult Authors: Ronald Hoffman Edward Benz Leslie Silberstein Helen Heslop Jeffrey WeitzJohn Anastasi, Hardcover ISBN: 9781437729283, eBook ISBN: 9781455740413 Imprint: Churchill Livingstone, Published Date: 19th November 2012, Page Count: 2384.  Basic Immunology, Functions and disorders of the immune system, Abul Abbas et al, Elsevier Editor, 2019, 336 pages.