Immunopathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Course objectives

General skills The aim of this course is to provide the student with a broad knowledge of the immunopathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. The course explores the functions of the effector cells of innate (phagocytes, antigen-presenting and natural killer cells) and adaptive immunity (T and B lymphocytes), the immune regulation of activity and functions of the central nervous system (CNS) resident cells and blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and the pathogenetic role of both innate and adaptive immune cells in the induction and/or progression of demyelinating as well as neurodegenerative diseases. The course includes classroom teaching sessions, invited lectures and learning assessment activities through written exam simulation tests. Specific skills 1.Knowledge and understanding skills - Knowledge and understanding the role of cells of innate and adaptive immunity - Knowledge and understanding the immune regulation of CNS resident cells and blood-brain-barrier BBB - Knowledge and understanding the pathogenetic role of immune cells in the induction and/or progression of demyelinating as well as neurodegenerative diseases. 2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding - Be able to use the specific terminology of the discipline - Be able to identify the right procedures to solve related questions - Apply the knowledge of the specific topics covered in class 3. Making judgmental The student will learn to discuss and critically evaluate the progress achieved in the field of neuro-inflammation and to ask questions for elaborating and deepening the knowledge learned. 4. Ability to communicate what has been learned The student will be able to communicate what has been learned during the written exam 5. Ability to continue the study independently in the course of life The student will acquire knowledge and terminology specific to the field. This knowledge will allow the student to continue his / her study independently, even after the end of the course and passing the exam. Prerequisiti: ENG Although no prerequisites are required, the student must possess an adequate knowledge of immunology, cell biology and physiology is required.

Channel 1
LORETTA TUOSTO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course is aimed to provide to the students the immunopathogenetic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. The main objective of the course will be aimed at knowledge the pathogenetic role of both innate and adaptive immune cells in the induction and/or progression of demyelinating as well as neurodegenerative diseases. To this aim, the course will be structured as follows: 1. Immune System - Cells of innate immunity: phagocytes, antigen presenting cells and natural killer (NK) - T lymphocytes - T lymphocyte subsets and cell-mediated immune response - B lymphocytes - Antibodies and humoral immune response 2. Immune regulation of the Central Nervous System (CNS): - Regulation of CNS resident cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia, by immune cells - The blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and its regulation by immune cells The topics described above will be covered in 20 hours of the course. 4 hours will be reserved for evaluating the learning activities through written exam simulation tests. These tests will be aimed to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the student. At the end of the course students will have acquired knowledge of the specific topics covered in class, the ability to identify the links between the different parts of the course and the mastery of the specific language of the discipline.
Prerequisites
Although no prerequisites are required, the student must possess an adequate knowledge of immunology, cell biology and physiology is required.
Books
Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai. "Molecular and cellular immunology". Edra, IX or X Edition Furthermore, the student will be provided with updated reviews on the individual topics covered in class
Frequency
Attendance at lessons is not required but is strongly recommended as well as participate to the evaluation tests
Exam mode
Assessment of learning outcomes will be assessed through a written exam at the end of the course, the exam will consist of 23 directly-answer questions on the entire program to be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes. In the evaluation of the tests and in the assignment of the final mark, the following will be taken into account: the level of knowledge of the demonstrated contents (superficial, precise and complete, complete and in-depth), the ability to apply the theoretical concepts (errors in applying the concepts, discrete , good, well established), the capacity for analysis, synthesis and interdisciplinary links (sufficient, good, excellent), the capacity for critical sense and the formulation of judgments (sufficient, good, excellent).
Lesson mode
The educational format will be based on 24 hours of frontal teaching that will be given through classroom lessons, with the help of power-point. 10 lessons, lasting 2 hours each, will focus mainly on the description of the program topics. 2 lessons of 2 hours each will be aimed to evaluate the learning activities and the knowledge acquired by the student through written tests.
FRANCESCO SPALLOTTA Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course is aimed to provide to the students the immunopathogenetic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. The main objective of the course will be aimed at knowledge the pathogenetic role of both innate and adaptive immune cells in the induction and/or progression of demyelinating as well as neurodegenerative diseases. To this aim, the course will be structured as follows: 3. Role of immune system in demyelinating and neurodegenerative diseases: - Multiple Sclerosis - Guillain-Barré syndrome - Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - Alzheimer disease - Parkinson disease The topics described above will be covered in 20 hours of the course. 4 hours will be reserved for evaluating the learning activities through written exam simulation tests. These tests will be aimed to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the student. At the end of the course students will have acquired knowledge of the specific topics covered in class, the ability to identify the links between the different parts of the course and the mastery of the specific language of the discipline.
Prerequisites
Although no prerequisites are required, the student must possess an adequate knowledge of immunology, cell biology and physiology is required.
Books
The student will be provided with updated reviews on the individual topics covered in class
Frequency
Attendance at lessons is not required. However, the student is encouraged to attend classes.
Exam mode
Assessment of learning outcomes will be assessed through a written exam at the end of the course, the exam will consist of 23 directly-answer questions on the entire program to be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes. In the evaluation of the tests and in the assignment of the final mark, the following will be taken into account: the level of knowledge of the demonstrated contents (superficial, precise and complete, complete and in-depth), the ability to apply the theoretical concepts (errors in applying the concepts, discrete , good, well established), the capacity for analysis, synthesis and interdisciplinary links (sufficient, good, excellent), the capacity for critical sense and the formulation of judgments (sufficient, good, excellent).
  • Lesson code10596044
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseNeurobiology
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDMED/04
  • CFU6