- Cell adaptation.
In this section, we will discuss homeostasis and disruption of homeostasis due to damage. The different types of cellular damage will be addressed with particular attention to molecular damage. The adaptation of cells in response to damage that can lead to cell death or to a change in the phenotype of cells and tissues (hypertrophy, atrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia) will also be discussed.
Cell deaths due to necrosis and in particular apoptosis will also be treated, including the intrinsic pathway (with insights into the pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins at the level of the mitochondrial membrane) and the extrinsic pathway (FAS pathway and caspase cascade).
- The immune system and the innate and adaptive immune responses.
This section will be dedicated to the description of the immune system and all the organs and cell types that are part of it. The maturation of lymphocytes in the organs of the lymphatic system will be discussed and the response of B and T lymphocytes will be described in detail: from the presentation of the antigen to the induction of apoptosis or the production of antibodies. Phagocytic cells and the mechanisms they implement to kill pathogens will also be discussed.
- Genetic mutations and molecular damage.
This topic of the course aims to make known how it is possible for a mutation to form in the genome and how this mutation can be the cause of a pathology. Examples of mutations in somatic cells will be given and mutations that are now part of the population in the form of allelic variants will also be treated. The chromosomal aberrations and the syndromes associated with them of dominant or recessive character will also be treated.
- Classification of tumors and mechanisms of carcinogenesis and tumor diffusion
This section will provide notions on the nomenclature of tumors and the difference between them in terms of malignancy and invasiveness. The mechanisms of local, lymphatic or blood diffusion and the action of metalloproteases will be described.
- Molecular biology of cancer
The environmental risk factors will be mentioned, but in particular the oncogenic risk at the molecular level. Proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressors will be treated, with detailed description of the various signal transduction pathways
- Oncogenic viruses
The main known oncogenic viruses will be described and the papilloma virus will be treated in depth.
- Hypersensitivity, allergies and autoimmune diseases
In-depth study of immunology with hypersensitivity to external antigens, but also to the "self". This section will discuss allergies and the autoimmune response, with insights and examples of common autoimmune diseases.
- Laboratory techniques to study the immune response using organ-on-a-chip technology and blood cell perfusion.
In recent years, 3D cultures are increasingly emerging, including the reconstruction of organ microenvironments using organ-on-a-chip technology. This technology will be treated in more detail as it allows the perfusion of cells of the immune system and therefore to study the entire inflammatory process in an "organ-specific" context.