OVERVIEW

Pharmacology is the science that studies the path of a drug in the body and its therapeutic and unwanted effects, analyzing the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying them. In the biotechnology field, molecular and cellular pharmacology mainly studies the targets on which drugs act, the effects that the drug-target interaction induces in these processes and the structural relationships that can improve the response to drugs in terms of efficacy and safety.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, students should know:
- The main principles governing pharmacokinetics and the parameters that allow its evaluation
- The main principles of pharmacodynamics and the characteristics of drug-molecular target interaction
- The functioning of the main signal transduction systems and their pharmacological modulation
- The characteristics of the main pharmacological classes 
Upon completion of the course, students should know:
- The main principles governing pharmacokinetics and the parameters that allow its evaluation
- The main principles of pharmacodynamics and the characteristics of drug-molecular target interaction
- The functioning of the main signal transduction systems and their pharmacological modulation
- The characteristics of the main pharmacological classes 

The activities of the Pharmacology Laboratory aim to foster the development of scientific skills necessary for the development of tests and experimental models useful for the evaluation of drug activity at the preclinical level. In particular, learning objectives are focused on providing knowledge regarding the methods to be used to design an experimental study in the field of pharmacology and to analyze the results obtained.

TEACHING METHODS

Pharmacology teaching consists of 5 CFUs divided into 32 hours of lectures and 16 hours of laboratory.

According to the teaching regulations, attendance is compulsory. 
The teaching methods involve the conduct of face-to-face lectures that engage students with questions and scientific reasoning. All course topics will be explained in detail during the lectures. The lecturer may also use peer education and peer evaluation mode so as to enable students to actively learn and acquire the ability to communicate effectively in oral form with appropriate terms. Instructional materials used during the lectures will be available for students on the AulaWeb website.

Laboratory activities will be taught by faculty and teaching assistants by dividing students into small groups to encourage individual student participation and will be preceded by a theoretical introduction on what is to be carried out and will focus on the use of basic and innovative techniques 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.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

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

1. G protein-coupled receptors, mechanisms of activation and signal transduction pathways; pharmacological modulation
2. Ion channels and ionotropic receptors; pharmacological modulation
3. Growth factor receptors endowed with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, signal transduction pathways; pharmacological modulation
4. Intracellular receptors, signal transduction pathways; pharmacological modulation
5. Ionic pumps and transporters; pharmacological modulation
6. Pharmacological modulation of the enzyme activity
7. Molecular targets of the neurotransmission and their pharmacological modulation: the noradrenergic/adrenergic neurotransmission
8. Molecular targets of the neurotransmission and their pharmacological modulation: the cholinergic neurotransmission
9. Pharmacological control of cell proliferation
10. Pharmacological control of inflammation: NSAIDs and glucocorticoids

5) PHARMACOLOGY LABORATORY

1. Glioma stem cell-enriched cultures, and three-dimensional spheroids cultures
2. Glioma stem cell pharmacological treatment
3. Cell proliferation assays
4. Migration and invasion assay
5. Immunofluorescence assay
6. Tube formation assay

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The use of the following text is recommended:
Clementi F., Fumagalli G. (2018) - General and Molecular Pharmacology.  Edra Ed.
In addition, all materials used during the lectures will be provided to students via Aulaweb, in advance of the lecture.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be conducted orally through an interview on the topics covered in the course.
There will be 3 appeals available for the winter session and (January-February) and 4 for the summer session (June-September).
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SAD), disabilities or other educational needs regularly submitted to the University may request adjustments in the exam which must be made strictly at least 10 working days before the scheduled exam date by carefully following the instructions in the link at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The verification of learning will be based on the assessment of the student's ability to present and discuss the program topics covered during the lectures, on which specific insights or connections with related topics may be required.

The discussion will be aimed at assessing not only the level of knowledge attained by the student but also the acquisition of critical ability in dealing with topics related to pharmacology.Learning outcomes will be assessed during the examination by analyzing the student's competence on the different topics given in the syllabus, the use of appropriate scientific terminology, and the ability to correlate and reason scientifically.
If the learning objectives are not met, the student will be invited to further verify his or her knowledge and, if necessary, request further clarification/explanation by contacting the lecturer.