03766 - Immunology

Learning outcomes

Al termine del corso lo studente: - conosce le basi del sistema immunitario come fondamentale strumento di difesa dell'organismo e delle sue alterazioni come causa di malattia; - è in grado di applicare le conoscenze dei meccanismi di base del sistema immunitario e delle sue alterazioni a specifiche patologie.

Course contents

Lectures held by Prof. Miriam Capri-MODULE I

Introduction to the Immune System (SI): functions and characteristics of the SI; nomenclature and definitions; innate and specific immunity; immune system cells: lymphocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, etc. Primary and secondary response.

SI organs and tissues: generative and secondary organs (bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, SI associated with mucosae and membranes). Lymphatic system and lymphocyte recirculation.

Innate immunity: physical barriers, preformed proteins, professional phagocytes, NK, NKT cells, gamma-delta lymphocytes. Mechanisms of phagocytosis and killing of pathogens. Role and receptors of NK cells (NKC, LRC). Mechanisms of antigen recognition in innate immunity (TLR, RIG, NLR and inflammasome). The memory of Innate Immunity: trained immunity.

Specific immunity: characteristics and functions, cell antigen receptors of the specific immunity (membrane antibodies and TCR), antigen recognition; generation of the repertoire of receptors, somatic recombination, clonal distribution. MHC molecules, antigen processing and presentation; proteasome and immunoproteasome. Dendritic cells.

B lymphocytes: characteristics of B lymphocytes, development, maturation and activation; structure of the B cell antigen receptor; role in the immune response: secreted antibodies: functions, classification. Monoclonal antibodies, uses in diagnosis and therapy.

T lymphocytes: characteristics of helper (CD4 +) and cytotoxic (CD8 +) T lymphocytes, development and activation; structure of the antigen receptor of T lymphocytes; functions in the immune response: cell-mediated immunity. Production of cytokines, Th1, Th2, innate and induced Treg lymphocytes. Cytotoxic action. Regional immunity: the intestinal mucous membranes. Relations with the intestinal microbiota; Th17 lymphocytes. Engineered T lymphocytes: CAR-T cells.

Cooperation between T, B and APC cells: costimulation; the role of accessory molecules; T-dependent and T-independent responses; T response suppression. Cytokines and Cytokine Receptors. Th1 and Th2 responses.

Tolerance: discrimination between self and non-self; self-tolerance. Mechanisms of central tolerance and peripheral tolerance (anergy, deletion, suppression).

Effector phases of the immune response: Activation of M1 and M2 macrophages; activation of helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, germinal center reaction.

Concerning the lectures held by Pro. Stefano Salvioli (Module II), see the related web site.

Readings/Bibliography

Immunologia e Immunopatologia (Umberto Dianzani et al.). Edi-Ermes. 2022

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai, Immunologia Cellulare e Molecolare, 2018 (9th edition; 10th edition coming soon), Ed. Elsevier-Masson.

Murphy & Weaver: immunologia di Janeway, 2019 (nona edizione), Piccin.

Geha, Notarangelo: Casi Studio in Immunologia, 2019 (settima edizione), Piccin.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures with ppt slides, unless different dispositions for anti-pandemic measures.

Assessment methods

Students will have access to the exam if they have attended at least 66% of the lectures.

The learning assessment is in written form and consists of two parts:

- the first part consists of two free-answer questions on themes of the Course. Every question can contribute to the final mark with 10 points out of 30. Insufficient answer (<6 out of 10) to one of these questions leads to test failure with no further evaluation of the second part.

- the second part consists of 40 quiz of the type "true-or-false" on themes of the Course. Every correct answer contributes with 3/10 points, every wrong answer leads to a penalty of -1/10. The total points available for this parts are 12.

Further information on exam evaluation can be be required during the first lesson of the Course.

Warning: in case of Covid-19 pandemic reactivation, it is possible that exams and lectures will be required to be done in remote. In this case, exams will be given online with the Microsoft Teams platform in oral form. Students must register as usual in Almaesami, and they will receive an e-mail with the link and timetable of the exam session.

In case of changes of exam modes, students will be promptly notified, both during lectures and on Almaesami website.

The aim of the oral exam is to evaluate the knowledge of the student on the course's topics and the capability to perform logical connections.

Grading procedure:

- knowledge of a very limited number of topics and limited analytical capacity → 18-19 out of 30;

- knowledge of a limited number of topics and basic analytical capacity → 20-24 out of 30;

- knowledge of a consistent number of topics and good analytical capacity → 25-29 out of 30;

- knowledge of all topics and very good analytical capacity → 30-30L out of 30.

Attention: a single exam mark will be registered for the Integrated Course by averaging the two marks of Immunology and Molecular Pathology.The person in charge of the registration is the professor in charge  for the Integrated Course.

It is strongly suggested to obtain the marks for the two parts of the Integrated Course (immunology and Molecular Pathology) within one year.

Teaching tools

The teaching tool is the projection of slides with the most important contents and concepts that must be part of the student's knowledge base. The slides of the lessons will be provided through the VIRTUAL website.

Office hours

See the website of Miriam Capri

See the website of Stefano Salvioli