SCV0817 - APPLIED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

courses

ID:

SCV0817

Duration (hours):

52

CFU:

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (03/10/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

Specific knowledge: Improve the knowledge on basic homeostatic and pathologic processes by taking advantage of the progress on Molecular Physiology and Molecular Pathology research. The purpose is to provide the students updated information on the function of molecules, cells and tissues, which is the prerequisite for understanding the mechanisms involved in maintaining homeostasis, and whose alterations, both at cellular and molecular levels, contributes to the development of diseases. For the Physiology section, particular attention will be dedicated to the nervous system, in particular to the behavior of the cell membrane and its protein, the role of specific ions in cell function, cell transport systems, cell communication, receptors and signaling. Specific cell types (i.e. neuron and glia cells) are used as examples to describe complex molecular processes which are the base of cell homeostasis. In the class in the applied physiology the structure and function of neuronal circuits and, their dysfunctions in pathological conditions will be analyzed. Both classical techniques (electrophysiology, cellular imaging) and advanced approaches (optogenetics, chemogenetics, iPSC-derived models) will be presented. The aim of the class is to develop the ability to plan adequate experiments with the proper techniques and protocols to collect experimental data to understand the physiological and pathological mechanisms. The goal is also to foster a critical approach to biotechnological applications in the study of neurological disorders. For the Pathology section, particular attention will be dedicated to the molecular and cellular process in cancer ant tumor immunology. To this end the contribution of soluble and structural components, tumor cells, stromal cells, and immune cells, as mediators of cancer onset and progression, will be dissected.

Course Prerequisites

Students are required to have previous knowledge on cell, tissue and organ physiology, biochemistry, physics, and organic chemistry, molecular biology. For the Pathology section, a strong background in General Pathology and Immunology is required.

Teaching Methods

Front lessons with ppt files and slides projection, seminars, and videos. Throughout the teaching timing, appropriate scientific papers are provided to the students. Hattendance is strongly encouraged.

Assessment Methods

Oral examination with evaluation in thirty. The exam is individual and the physiology and the pathology program. Applied Physiology: Evaluation will be based on the presentation of a project where students analyze a neurological disorder of their choice, describe the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and propose a cellular and molecular approach to its study. A discussion about several topics included in the program and exposed during the classes will follow the presentation. Evaluation criteria include clarity of presentation, critical analysis, and biotechnological relevance . About 70% of the evaluation is based on the knowledge concerning the topics included in the program. The remaining part is based on the use a proper terminology, and the project presentation. For the Pathology exam, the student must sustain an oral exam that concerns questions related to the theoretical and technical aspects discussed during the lessons. The final evaluation will consider the knowledge acquired and understanding (40%), the application of the knowledge acquired, by discussing the specific topic. And providing related examples/applications (40%), communication skills (20%). Precision in terminology and content correctness are required to pass the exam. Ability to integrate the different knowledge acquired and contents will be considered to get higher marks (29-30 and honors).

Contens of the Applied Physiology part:Neurophysiology: excitability, synaptic transmission, ion channels, receptors and transmembrane transport. Neuronal circuits, Classical and advanced techniques: electrophysiology, cellular imaging, optogenetics, chemogenetics, iPSC-derived models and brain organoids. Contents section of Pathology Overview on general pathology and immunology: cell adaptation to damages, acute and chronic inflammation, tumor biology. Introduction to applied pathophysiology. Molecular pathways in oncology. Overview of the most relevant signaling pathways involved in tumor onset and progression from a tumor intrinsic and tumor extrinsic point view. Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs): classification, differences with normal fibroblasts (NFs). CAF phenotypes. CAFs in tumor progression, immunosuppression, angiogenesis, and tumor metabolism. Experimental procedures to study CAFs. Therapies targeting CAFs. Cancer Stem Cells: classification, relevance in tumor biology and anti-tumor therapy. Circulating tumor cells. CSCs and metastasis. Experimental procedures to study CSCs. Therapies targeting CSCs. Tumor spheroids and organoids in pathophysiology: generation of tumor spheroids and related biomedical applications; generation of tumor organoids and biomedical applications. The cell extracellular matrix (ECM): ECM composition and classification, pathophysiological role of ECM. ECM in tissue repair and cancer. Experimental procedures to study ECM. Animal models in oncology: murine models of chemically induced carcinogenesis, orthotopic cancer murine models, transgenic mouse models (selected examples), humanized mouse models. Cancer immunotherapy. General concepts for active and passive immunization. Immune checkpoints. Strategy in cancer immunotherapy: bacterial products, immune-cytokines, vaccines, adoptive cell transfer with T or NK cells. Chimeric antigen receptors: CAR-T and CAR-NK cells. Combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy and anti-angiogenesis. Side effect of immunotherapy: Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). Extracellular vesicles (EVs): definition, classification, biological activities, experimental procedures to study EVs. Advanced flow cytometry and cell sorting. Basic of flow cytometry: fluorescence, monoclonal antibody, antigen density, determination of the stain index. Components of a flow cytometer and cell sorter: flow chamber, optics and filters, signals. Flow panel design and compensation. Specific application and examples of flow cytometry: apoptosis, cell cycle, oxidative stress, intracellular and intranuclear factors, immunophenotyping. Applications: Immunophenotyping by multicolour flow cytometry: panel design, isolation of PBMCs from whole blood, antibody staining, FACS acquisition and flow data analysis.