23276 - General Pathology and Immunology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the causes and pathogenetic mechanisms underlying human diseases, as well as the etiopathogenesis of the fundamental alterations affecting biological structures, functions, and regulatory mechanisms at the different levels of biological organization. Students will also acquire knowledge of the principles and biological bases underlying the function and regulation of the immune response, including the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with dysregulated immune responses in the major human diseases.

Course contents

Introduction to General Pathology

Health and disease – Concept of homeostasis – Etiology and pathogenesis – Physical, chemical, biological, and genetic causes of disease – Environmental factors – Gene–environment interactions – Basic principles of the epidemiology of chronic diseases.

Cell Injury and Cellular Adaptation

Cellular homeostasis – Cellular adaptations – Reversible and irreversible cell injury – Necrosis – Apoptosis – Cellular senescence – Oxidative stress – Storage diseases – Amyloidosis.

Inflammation and Tissue Repair

Inflammation: definition, characteristics, and clinical signs – Molecular mechanisms of inflammation – Cells involved in the inflammatory process – Role of inflammation in physiological responses – Chronic inflammation as a driver of ageing (inflammaging).

Immunology Innate Immunity

Physical and chemical barriers – Neutrophils – Macrophages – Dendritic cells – Natural Killer (NK) cells – Complement system – Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) – Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) – Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) – Toll-like receptors (TLRs).

Adaptive Immunity

Antigens – Antibodies – Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) – Antigen presentation – B lymphocytes – T lymphocytes – CD4⁺ T cells – CD8⁺ T cells – Immunological memory.

Immune Response

Lymphocyte activation – Antibody production – Antiviral immune response – Antibacterial immune response – Vaccination.

Immunopathology

Disorders of the immune response – Classification of immunopathological conditions – Type I hypersensitivity (allergic reactions) – Type II, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions.

Neoplasia

Benign tumors – Malignant tumors – Carcinogenesis – Oncogenes – Tumor suppressor genes – Mutations – TP53 – RB – APC – MYC – Metastasis – Angiogenesis – Oncogenic viruses.

Endocrine and Metabolic Pathophysiology

Organization of the endocrine system – Hormone receptors – Hypothalamic–pituitary axis – Type 1 diabetes mellitus – Type 2 diabetes mellitus – Complications of diabetes – Obesity – Metabolic syndrome – Atherosclerosis – Dyslipidemia – Role of chronic inflammation – Ageing.

Readings/Bibliography

Maurizio Parola, Patologia Generale ed Elementi di Fisiopatologia, II edizione o successive, EdiSES Università

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures supported by PowerPoint and PDF presentations, which will be available on the Virtuale e-learning platform. Short quizzes and exercises will be provided during the course, both in class and on Virtuale, to support learning and help students prepare for the final exam.

Assessment methods

Student learning will be assessed through a written examination (paper-based or electronic) consisting of multiple-choice questions, organized as follows:

• Questionnaire A: 30 multiple-choice questions covering General Pathology and Immunology and General Pharmacology.
• Questionnaire B: 30 multiple-choice questions covering Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry.

Students may complete both questionnaires during the same examination session (40 minutes total) or in separate sessions (20 minutes for each questionnaire), provided that the entire examination is completed within the same academic year.

Teaching tools

PDF or PowerPoint presentations, together with short quizzes and exercises, will be available on the course pages of the instructors on the Virtuale e-learning platform (virtuale.unibo.it).

Office hours

See the website of Maria Conte