66629 - General Pathology and Immunology

Learning outcomes

This course will focus on examination of the molecular basis of human diseases and the application of genetic, biochemical and molecular biological principles to an understanding of the diseases. Course emphasizes inherited human disorders and cancer.

Course contents

General pathology

Concepts of disease, ethiology and pathogenesis. Cell pathology. Cell death: necrosis and apoptosis. Acute inflammation: features and ethiology; microcirculation alterations and exudate formation; cellular recruitment and phagocytosis; chemical mediators; classification and exits; systemic effects. Chronic inflammation: macrophage role; aspecific forms; granulomas; tubercular disease. Repair. Neoplasias: classification; epidemiology; molecular bases of cancer; biology of tumor growth; cancerogen agents and cellular interactions; tumoral immunity; tumor grade and stage; laboratory diagnosis of neoplasias. Genetic diseases: chromosomal and mendelian diseases. Complex diseases.

Immunology
General Properties of Immune Responses. Innate and Adaptative Immunity. Clonal features of immune responses. Specificity and Memory. Anatomy and functions of lymphoid tissues (Bone Marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, mucosal immune system and cutaneous immune system). Cells of human immune system (Lymphocytes, lymphocyte subsets, Natural killer, monocytes, granulocytes and antigen presenting cells): number, phenotype, origin, function, recirculation and homing.
Antigen-recognizing molecules: 1) Antibodies: molecular structure and functions of antibodies, different isotypes and subtypes. Immunoglobulin genes. Molecular bases of generation of B lymphocyte repertoire: a) Ig gene recombination; (b) allelic exclusion; (c) Heavy chain isotype switching; (d) Activation of immune response and increased affinity of antibodies. Ontogenesis and maturation of B cells.
T cell Receptor (TCR): (a) molecular structure and function; (b)  Somatic recombination of TCR genes for generation of T cell repertoire; (c) molecular structure and function of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28 and other accessory molecules. Ontogenesis and maturation of T cells. MHC restriction of T lymphocytes.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC): (a) Structure of class I MHC molecules and class II MHC molecules; (b) MHC genes and their location on chromosomes. Genomic organization; (c) haplotype; (d) linkage disequilibrium; (e) functions of class I MHC molecules and class II MHC molecules.
Processing and presentation of antigens: cytosolic protein antigens and extracellular protein antigens. Role of Class I MHC molecules and class II  MHC molecules. Proteins and intracellular organelles involved in these pathways. Types of antigen presenting cells (APC).
Cooperation between helper T lymphocytes and APC. Signal transduction and activation of T cells Role of co-stimulatory molecules (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28). Activation and expression of T cell genes. Cytokine secretion. Molecular pathways of signal transduction in B and T cells. The generation of antibody-producing cells; thymus-dependent antigens and thymus-independent antigens; the involved cells (B lymphocytes, plasma cells TH1 and TH2 lymphocytes); The principal cytokines produced; Features of primary and secondary antibody responses; Affinity maturation.
General features and mechanisms of immunological tolerance. Effector mechanisms of cell-mediated immunity: delayed-type hypersensitivity. Effector CD4+ T cells and macrophage activation. Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTL). Mechanisms of CTL-mediated lysis of target cells. Cells with cytotoxic activity (CTL, NK, LAK and macrophage).

Function and biological role of some cytokines as IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-a, IFN-g. IL-1, IL-4, IL-5.
Hypersensitivity reactions.

Readings/Bibliography

Patologia generale
Kumar V., Abbass A.K., Fausto N., Aster J.C. “Robbins e Cotran - Le basi patologiche delle malattie”, 8a edizione, Elsevier Italia 2010

Immunologia
A. K. ABBAS, A.H. LICHTMAN Le basi dell'Immunologia. Fisiopatologia del sistema immunitario Ed.Masson–Elsevier Italia, 2006
T. DOAN, R. MELVOLD, S. VISELLI, C.WALTENBAUGH. Le basi dell'immunologia. Con approfondimenti clinici . Zanichelli 2008 
Approfondimento:
 A.K. ABBAS, A. H. LICHTMAN, S. PILLAI Immunologia cellulare e molecolare, sesta edizione, Ed.Masson–Elsevier Italia 
MALE, BROSTOFF, ROTH and ROITT Immunologia, settima edizione 2008   Ed.Masson–Elsevier Italia with STUDENT CONSULT Access  
G.P. PIER, J.B.LYCZAK, L.M. WETZELER Immunologia Infezione Immunità Piccin 2006 C. A.
JANEWAY, P. TRAVERS, M. WALPORT, M. SHLOMCHIK Immunobiologia. Il sistema immunitario in stato di salute e malattia  3° edizione italiana (Sixth Edition) Piccin   

Teaching methods

Lectures (32 hours General pathology and 24 hours Immunology). General Pathology Laboratory (15 hours)

Assessment methods

At the end of the Course, the student:  

- has acquired a cellular and molecular vision of pathology and immunology; 

- knows the mechanisms regulating organismal response to damage;

- is familiar with the main mechanisms of immune system which lie beneath the alterated immune responses.

The final grade of the integrated course “General Pathology and Immunology” will be the synthesis of the evaluations obtained in the different teachings composing it. The evaluations obtained in the different tests do not have specific deadlines. The exam relative to the teaching of “General pathology” is composed of a practical and an oral proof. The goal of the practical proof is to verify the ability to recognize the morphological features of the preparations the Students analyzed during the laboratory activity.

The oral proofs of General Pathology and Immunology aim at verifying the acquisition of the knowledge detailed in the Course objectives and will be composed of two questions on topics covered in the Course. The final grade will be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the marks obtained separately in the “General Pathology“ and “Immunology” proofs.

In order to go through the final exam, the students must register in the electronic board respecting the deadline. Students that are not able to register can be admitted to the final proof anyway, provided they contact the professor by e-mail before the expected deadline.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be supplied on informatic supports (http://campus.unibo.it/).

Office hours

See the website of Annalisa Pession

See the website of Daniela Monti