CELL DEATH AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Ementa/tópicos abordados:

The goal of this course is to transmit to the students the basic concepts about the molecular control of apoptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis and their impact on the immune system. We will discuss the role of the different forms of cell death during the ontogeny of the immune system, the regulation of the immune response and the implication to inflammatory responses, particularly the importance of cell death to the control of infectious diseases.

For many years, the phenomenon of cell death was neglected by the scientific community in favor of other biological processes such as activation, proliferation and differentiation. However, the area of cell death biology was massively developed in the last couple of decades and is responsible for the characterization of novel molecules and transduction pathways, contributing to the understanding of fundamental concepts about immune privilege, tolerance and autoimmunity, regulation of inflammatory processes, cytotoxicity, graft rejection and immune response to infections and tumors. In recent years, many advances to the knowledge of cell death processes were achieved. Today, we know that, in addition to the programmed cell death called apoptosis, other processes also regulated molecularly, have been described. However, unlike apoptosis, which essentially is a non-inflammatory form of cell death, necroptosis and pyroptosis are pro-inflammatory forms of cell death that participate actively to the control of infections and tumors. In this course, we intend to discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of different cell death processes, their consequences for the immune response and potential therapeutic applications.                                                                                                                                                       

Lecture #1 – Historical view and basic concepts on programmed cell death

Date: 01/03/2021, Monday das 8:00-9:50 

Speaker: Seamus Martin

Lecture #2 – Apoptosis and tumor biology

Date: 01/03/2021, Monday das 10:10-12:00

Speaker: Cristina Muñoz-Pinedo

Lecture #3 – Inflammasomes and molecular regulation of pyroptosis

Date: 02/03/2021, Tuesday das 8:00-9:50 

Speaker: Petr Broz

Lecture #4 – Necroptosis and other alternative forms of regulated cell death

Date: 02/03/2021, Tuesday das 10:10-12:00

Speaker: Peter Vandenabeele

Lecture #5 – Cell death regulation of Central & Peripheral Tolerance 

Date: 03/03/2021, Wednesday das 8:00-9:50 

Speaker: Verena Labi

Lecture #6 – Recognition of dying cells and consequence for inflammation

Date: 03/03/2021, Wednesday das 10:10-12:00

Speaker: Jennifer Martinez

Lecture #7 – Immunogenic x non-immunogenic cell death

Date: 04/03/2021, Thursday das 8:00-9:50 

Speaker: 

Lecture #8 – Control of infections by cell death processes

Date: 04/03/2021, Wednesday das 10:10-12:00

Speaker: Thirumala Kanneganti

Lecture #9 – Guidelines for cell death analysis and quantification

Date: 05/03/2021, Friday das 8:00-9:50 

Speaker: 

Lecture #10 – Therapeutic strategies targeting cell death pathways 

Date: 05/03/2021, Friday das 10:10-12:00

Speaker: Domagoj Vucic

V – TEACHING STRATEGIES

• Online lectures with specialist in the field;

• Journal Clubs presented by students;

• Group discussion about concepts, experimental strategies and scientific open questions

• Journal Club presentation 40% da nota

• Final Report 40% da nota

• Participation on online discussion 20% da nota

We will accept a maximum number of 15 students, who should be interviewed or submit CV for assessment, as part of the selection process. This course may benefit from the participation of a foreign professor and will be given in English. Therefore, proficiency in English must be provided at the time of registration and/or during interview.