23276 - General Pathology and Immunology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able to understand the determining causes and pathogenetic mechanisms of human diseases, as well as the etiopathogenesis of the fundamental alterations of the structures, functions and control mechanisms at the various levels of integration. The student also knows the biological principles and bases on which the functioning and regulation of the immune response are based, without neglecting the pathophysiological aspects of the altered immune response in the main diseases.

Course contents

Lesson 1: Introduction to General Pathology. Definitions and nomenclatures. Environmental pathologies. Chemical pollution. Radiation, electric current and heat pathologies. Pathologies from incorrect nutrition and malnutrition or malnutrition.

Lesson 2: Hereditary genetic diseases. Types of transmission. Monogenic diseases; diseases from chromosomal alterations.

Lesson 3: Cell growth alterations; hypertrophy, hypotrophy; metaplasia, anaplasia. Cell death processes: necrosis and apoptosis. Cellular senescence and autophagy.

Lesson 4: Inflammation, definition, characteristics and symptoms. Molecular mechanisms of inflammation. Cells involved in the inflammatory process. Role in the physiological responses of the organism. Molecules that promote or quench inflammation: prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes, cytokines and chemokines.

Lesson 5: Acute and chronic inflammations; ulcers and granulomas. Repair of tissue damage. Wound healing by first and second intention. • Inflammation as a driver of aging (inflammaging).

Lesson 6: The body's immune defenses. Organs and tissues of the immune system. Cells and mechanisms of innate immunity. • Specific immunity: characteristics and functions, cell antigen receptors of specific immunity (membrane antibodies and TCR); generation of the repertoire of receptors, clonal distribution. MHC molecules and their role. • B lymphocytes: characteristics of B lymphocytes; Secreted antibodies: structure and functions. • T lymphocytes: characteristics of helper (CD4 +) and cytotoxic (CD8 +) T lymphocytes. Tolerance: recognition and distinction between self and non-self; self tolerance.

Lesson 7: Effector phases of the immune response. Complement; Activation of M1 and M2 macrophages; delayed-type hypersensitivity; activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes; response to intra and extra cellular bacteria; response to viruses and parasites. Vaccines, vaccination strategies, types of vaccines.

Lesson 8: Immunopathology: alterations in the immune response; type I hypersensitivity: allergies; hypersensitivity of type II, III and IV; disruption of tolerance and autoimmunity; congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, HIV and AIDS. Transplant immunology: biological basis of transplant rejection; the types of rejection; strategies to avoid rejection: HLA typing, immunosuppressive drugs.

Lesson 9: Tumors. Benign and malignant tumors: carcinomas and sarcomas. Oncogenesis: oncogenic and tumor suppressor genes. Cell cycle modifications. Cellular immortalization. Tumor angiogenesis, neoplastic invasiveness and metastasis.

Lesson 10: Carcinogenesis by chemical or physical agents. Viral carcinogenesis. Genetic and environmental risk factors. Natural history of the tumor. Gradation and staging of tumors. Cancer immunology.

Lesson 11: Outline of endocrine physiopathology. The main hormones, characteristics, production and function. The hormone receptors. The hypothalamus-pituitary-target glands axis. Primary and secondary hypofunctions and hyperfunctions. Thyroid and adrenal gland.

Lesson 12: Metabolic diseases: Obesity and type I and II diabetes mellitus. Hypercholesterolemia and Atherosclerosis: epidemiological aspects and risk factors.

Readings/Bibliography

- M. Parola, Patologia Generale ed elementi di Fisiopatologia, 2012 (II edizione), EdiSES

- Lakhani, Dilly, Finlayson, Gandhi, Carolini, Del Rosso, Le basi della patologia generale, 2020, CEA

- G.M. Pontieri, Elementi di fisiopatologia generale, 2018 (IV edizione), Piccin

- Selected scientific literature

 

Teaching methods

Lectures with ppt presentations.

Assessment methods

Assessment of learning takes place only through the final exam, which ascertains the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills. The exam is unique for the Integrated Course of Pathological Sciences, in written form and consists of 60 multiple choice questions (30 of Pathology and Immunology, 10 of Clinical Pathology, 10 of Clinical Biochemistry and 10 of General Pharmacology) to be answered in 50 minutes.

The exam takes place on the computer in the computer room.

The minimum mark of 18/30 is achieved with 36 correct answers. The final grade is calculated as the arithmetic average of the positive results of the various modules that make up the integrated course.

Teaching tools

The teaching material presented in class will be made available on https://virtuale.unibo.it/ in electronic format.

Office hours

See the website of Aurelia Santoro