Università degli Studi di Catania

IMMUNOLOGY
1) General characteristics of the immune response: organization of the immune system. natural immunity: humoral and cellular components. The structures of the pathogens and the signs recognized by the innate immunity receptors:
2) Immunity cells: granulocytes basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, dendritic cells, NK cells and cells of the monocyte-macrophage system. Origin, maturation and function.
3)Function of the immune system: role of primary (bone marrow and thymus) and secondary (lymph nodes, spleen, lymphoid tissue associated with mucous membranes) lymphoid organs in the immune response.
4) lymphocyte migration: Families of adhesion molecules. Role of lymphocyte homing adhesion molecules and leukocytes diapedesis .
5) Antigens: definition and properties of the antigens. Superantigens and mitogens.
6) Antibodies and generation of antibody diversity: Basic structure of immunoglobulins heavy and light chains. Structure and function of the variable and constant region domains. The combining site. Antigenic determinants of immunoglobulins: isotypes, allotypes and idiotipi. Classes and subclasses of immunoglobulins. biological functions of the classes and subclasses of Ig. Immunoglobulin membrane and circulating. Active and passive immunization . The light and heavy chain organization. Rearrangement of the variable region genes.
7) Monoclonal Antibodies: Production and use
8) B lymphocytes and immune response mediated by antibodies: Maturation and maturational stages of B lymphocytes. The complex of the Ag receptor (BCR). Phenotypic markers and co-stimulatory surface molecules. Activation, proliferation and differentiation of B lymphocyte response to antigens and T-Tindipendenti employees. Kinetics of primary and secondary response. Maturation of antibody response: isotype switching, affinity maturation and immunologic memory.
9) Complement: classical Via, alternatively and lectin. The complement membrane attack complex (components and activation). Regulation of complement activation.
10) the major histocompatibility system: Organization of MHC genes and their inheritance. Structure and function of MHC molecules.
11) Processing and presentation of the Ag: Ag-presenting cells (APC). Processing the Ag by APC: endogenous and exogenous cycle. MHC molecules role in the Ag recognition.
12) T lymphocytes and cell-mediated immunity: Receptor for the Ag (TCR). Organization, rearrangement and diversity generation of TCR genes. The CD3 complex. Maturation and maturation stages of T cells in the thymus; positive and negative selection. Phenotypic markers and co-stimulatory surface molecules. T subpopulations and their function. Regulatory T cells. direct cytotoxic response: effector cells and mechanisms of cytotoxicity. Delayed hypersensitivity response: the role of APC and effector cells. Activation, proliferation and death of T lymphocytes
13) Cytokines: Structure and function of cytokines and their receptors.
14) General characteristics of the immune response against microorganisms.
15) The most important laboratory techniques.

IMMUNOPATHOLOGY

1) Hypersensitivity Reactions: Hypersensitivity of anaphylactic, cytotoxic, immune complex and delayed. Etiology, pathogenesis, major demonstrations and evaluation methods.
2) Tolerance and Autoimmunity: natural and induced tolerance. cellular and molecular mechanisms of tolerance of T lymphocytes and B. Loss of tolerance: etiology, pathogenesis and genetics of autoimmune phenomena. systemic diseases and organ-specific
3) congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies: Deficit of the compartment of the compartment B. T. Deficit Deficit combined B and T defects of phagocytes. Complement deficiencies.
4) Immunology transplant: Mechanisms of allograft rejection. Transfusions and bone marrow transplants.
5) Immunity 'cancer: tumor antigens. Major mechanisms involved in the immune response to tumors and their evasion by cancer cells.

SCIENZE DELLA PATOLOGIA UMANA

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