15500 - Pharmacological Biotechnologies

Learning outcomes

- General principles of pharmacodynamics: mechanisms of drug action, structure-activity relationship

- Evaluation of the drug effects. Drug concentration-response relationship. Therapeutic index.

- Receptor mechanisms of drug action and signal transduction mechanisms.

- Drug antagonism: competitive antagonism and partial antagonist.

- Modification of the drug response: hypersensitivity, desensitization, tolerance, tachyphylaxis.

- General principles of pharmacokinetics. Passive diffusion. Drug absorption and administration routes. Absorption kinetics. Analysis of the plasma concentration curve.

- Kinetics of drug elimination. Renal clearance and systemic clearance.

- Drug excretion and metabolism. Metabolic drug induction. Active metabolites. Influence of pathologies on pharmacokinetic.

- Introduction to main drug classes with aparticular attention to iinovative or biotechnological drugs:

- Principles of pharmacology of the central nervous system: gene therapy and cellular therapy for Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease. Pharmacological therapy for lateral amyotrophic sclerosis and sclerosis muscolar atrophy.

- Principles of anticancer drug therapy: innovative drugs.

- Pharmacology of the endocrine pancreas.

- Principles of immunopharmacology.

Laboratory course

Module II -Dr. Monica Baiula

Module III - Dr. Andrea Bedini

The students in the practical laboratory course of pharmacology will carry out the following experiments:

1) set up of a cell model to study drug-receptor interactions by a cell adhesion assay.

2) Evaluation of the signal transduction pathways of a G-protein coupled receptor exposed to agonists and/or to antagonists adopting a cell model expressing the recombinant receptor.

3) Analysis of the effect of glucocorticoids on gene expression in a lympocytic cell line.

Readings/Bibliography

In addition to the material that will be distributed by the teacher, the following textbooks are suggested:

− Golan DE et al. Principi di Farmacologia – Le basi fisiopatologiche delle malattie Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano

−Rang HP, Dale MM, Ritter JM Farmacologia Casa Editrice Elsevier, Milano

− Katzung BG Farmacologia generale e clinica Piccin, Padova

− Birkett DJ Birkett DJ, Elementi essenziali di FARMACOCINETICA Piccin, Padova

− Clementi F, Fumagalli G Farmacologia generale e molecolare UTET, Torino

-Stefano Govoni, Santi Mario Spampinato. Farmacologia. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2024

- Vegeto E, Maggi A, Minghetti P, Farmaci Biotecnologici. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Teaching methods

Lessons in classroom, (PC - connection to specific web sites).

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students (including all the international incoming exchange students, i.e. ERASMUS) must attend Module 1, 2 online [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio], while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme ("studiare"--"formazione obbligatoria su sicurezza e salute”).

Assessment methods

The exam takes place in two stages: a) delivery of a detailed written report stating, in an analytical way, the experimental procedures and the results obtained in the laboratory course; b) a final written exam of 2 hours. In the written exam, it is not allowed to consult books, notes and computer media; this is structured in two parts. The written test consists of 10 open questions on the following topics: general principles of pharmacodynamics; mechanisms of drug action, structure-activity relationship; evaluation of the drug effects; drug concentration-response relationship; therapeutic index; receptor mechanisms of drug action and signal transduction mechanisms; drug antagonism; modification of the drug response; drug absorption and administration routes; analysis of the plasma concentration curve; kinetics of drug elimination; drug excretion and metabolism; metabolic drug induction; principles of autonomic and peripheral nervous system pharmacology; principles of cardiovascular pharmacology; principles of pharmacology of the central nervous system; principles of immunopharmacology; biotechnological drugs.

The test will be passed if it is achieved, in each part, a minimum score of 12/20.

The written report will be given as indicated by professors. The written report will be awarded up to 10 points.

The vote on the entire course is calculated as the sum of the individual marks obtained in the written report and in the two parts of the written test.

Students who attend the course can participate to 2 partial tests. The first, will be done on Easter holidays exam session, on the topics of the first eight lessons: general pharmacodynamics: mechanisms of drug action; evaluation and measurement of the pharmacological effect; concentration-effect or dose-effect; therapeutic index; receptor-mediated mechanisms of action of drugs and mechanisms of signal transduction; definition and type of pharmacological and metabolic antagonism; modifications of the pharmacological response; general principles of pharmacokinetics, absorption and routes of administration of drugs; analysis of the plasma concentration curve; kinetics of elimination of the drug; excretion and metabolism of drugs, medicines of the autonomic nervous system and visceral function. The second test, at the end of the course, on the topics of the last eight lessons: the principles of cardiovascular pharmacology, principles of pharmacology of the central nervous system antitumor principles of pharmacology; immunopharmacology; biotechnology drugs. Each test will be passed if the student has reached a minimum score of 6/10. The score obtained in the partial test can be recognized, if specifically requested by the student, as indicated above in the place of the final exam. The scores obtained in the partial tests are valid no later than September 30 of the academic year attended during the course. Thereafter, the student will afford the written exam.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Projector for lessons and a well equipped laboratory for the practical course.

Office hours

See the website of Monica Baiula

See the website of Andrea Bedini