03766 - Immunology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - knows the bases of the immune system as a fundamental defense tool of the organism and its alterations as a cause of disease; - will be able to apply knowledge of the basic mechanisms of the immune system and its alterations for specific pathologies.

Course contents

 

Lectures held by Prof. Miriam Capri

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

 

Lectures held by Prof. Stefano Salvioli

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.

Completion of effector mechanisms of humoral immunity: complement, its regulation and possible deficits. Immunity to pathogens: extra and intra-cellular bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Overview of the mechanisms of the immune system to eliminate pathogens and mechanisms of evasion of the immune response by the pathogens themselves. Types of vaccines and vaccination strategies and risk assessment.

Immunopathology: alterations of the immune response; classification of immunopathologies; type I hypersensitivity: allergies; hypersensitivity types II, III and IV; breakdown of tolerance and distinct autoimmune diseases in types II-III-IV.

Congenital immunodeficiencies relating to innate and adaptive immunity. Acquired immunodeficiencies: HIV and AIDS. Transplant immunology: classification of transplants: auto-, allo- and xenotransplants; biological basis of transplant rejection; types of rejection; GVHD; strategies to avoid rejection: HLA typing, immunosuppressive drugs Immunity and cancer: antigenic characteristics of tumors; ability of the IS to recognize cancer cells.

Immunotherapies: Monoclonal Abs, CAR-T cells. How the SI ages: immunosenescence. Consequences of decreased immune response on susceptibility to aging-associated diseases. Inflammation as an immunological engine of aging (inflammaging).

 

Readings/Bibliography

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

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai, Immunologia Cellulare e Molecolare, 2018 (nona edizione), Ed. Elsevier-Masson. LA DECIMA EDIZIONE E' IN PROSSIMA USCITA.

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

Amadori e Zanovello, Lezioni di immunologia e immunopatologia – 2020, Piccin Editore

Janeway, Immunobiologia, 2019 (nona edizione), Ed. Piccin-Nuova Libraria.

Teaching methods

Frontal classes with presentation in ppt and the use of some short-video.

In cas eof a new emergency the lesson can be got through online platform such as TEAMS.

Assessment methods

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

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 required during the first lesson of the Course.

In case of a new emergency:

the exams are given online with the Microsoft Teams platform in oral form until new provisions. Students must register as usual in Almaesami, and they will receive an e-mail with the link and timetable of the exam session.

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.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools are slides projected in order to help students to recognise most important concepts and take home messages.
Slides of lessons will be given to the students by means of the web site VIRTUALE.

Office hours

See the website of Miriam Capri

See the website of Stefano Salvioli