LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the Course is to provide the student with basic knowledge (at molecular and cellular levels) for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cell response to damage. A relevant part of the course is focused on the defense mechanisms toward a "stressor" stimulus and how this triggers cell/tissue/organ morpho-functional alterations. These issues are well addressed by learning of inflammatory and immunological responses, closely related to each other. Particular attention will be given to the natural and acquired mechanisms of the inflammatory and immune process against bacterial and viral pathogens, the organization of the immune system, the involved different cells, the mechanisms of antigen recognition, the differentiation and activation of B and T lymphocytes, the development of their effector responses. Moreover the mechanisms underlying the tolerance towards its constituents and the main immune mechanisms of pathological relevance will be explained.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide students

• the notions necessary to understand causes (endogenous or exogenous) of cell damage and defense mechanisms
• a general understanding of how the immune system works and how it defends the body's well-being

At the end of the course, the student will be able to

• Know the causes and mechanisms of cell and tissue damage
• Recognize the characteristics and indicators of an inflammatory process and an adaptive immunity response, in particular the antibody one
• Know the benefits and possible negative effects of the immune response
• Become aware of the existence of some frequent human pathologies, such as atherosclerosis, and of some innovative therapeutic techniques, such as bone marrow transplant

PREREQUISITES

Prerequisites: notions of Cytology, Histology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching activity is carried out through lectures with the aid of on-screen presentations. The teaching material is available in pdf version on Teams or aulaweb, to allow the student to learn and deepen the topics indicated in the course program and required for passing the final exam.

In case of changes in the health and epidemiological situation, the lessons will be held at a distance (Teams).

There are no student reception hours, but students can contact the teachers by email in order to make an appointment for further explanations.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• BIOLOGICAL HOMEOSTASIS: state of health, concept of injury, sign, symptom and disease. Cell damage mechanisms. Aging.

• Notes on extrinsic causes of disease: chemical, physical and biological causes

• CELL RESPONSE TO DAMAGE: reversible damage, persistent damage - adaptation (atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia); irreversible damage: cell death (necrosis, apoptosis). Role of heat shock proteins in the response to damage and in the control of cell functions and the response to misfolded proteins (UPR).

• PRINCIPLES OF ROOT PATHOLOGY: reactive oxygen and nitrogen species: biological actions and involvement in cell damage.

Antioxidant defenses.

• INNATE IMMUNITY: cells and molecules, local and systemic inflammation, acute and chronic, histological variants of inflammation with examples of pathologies

• ADAPTATIVE IMMUNITY: generation, education and functions of B and T lymphocytes

• PATHOLOGIES OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: type I hypersensitivity and notes on immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity and auto-inflammatory diseases with some examples of pathologies

• HEMOPOYESIS, HEMOPOIETIC STEM CELL (HSC) AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT

• ATHEROSCLEROSIS and notes on ischemic heart disease

LABORATORY: theoretical-practical applications of basic methods suitable for the in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of compounds (e.g. MTT assay, Alamar Blue), setting up of dynamic in vitro systems with the use of millifluidic bioreactors, preparation of cell lysates on which to perform protein dosage and dedicated seminars.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Robbins and Cotran: The pathological basis of diseases (Elsevier)

• Abbas, Lichtman: Cellular and Molecular Immunology (Elsevier)

Students with SLD, disability or other special educational needs certification are strongly encouraged to contact the teachers at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching methods which, respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory instruments.