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Cell Death and Injury

Objectives

In this Course we intend to deepen the study of the cellular and molecular processes involved in the different types of cell death, and in the cellular response to the injury. In parallel we will address methods of evaluation of different stages of cell death, as well as development of drugs and research of therapeutic targets.

It is expected that at the end of this course students will have achieved the following general competences: i) understanding the concept of oxidative stress; ii) to understand, through practical cases, the concept of cellular injury and the mechanisms activated in the endogenous response to the injury; iii) enumerate and distinguish different types and cell death, relating the inductors and mechanisms involved; iv) to identify the deregulation of the mechanisms involved in cell death as being the basis of several diseases; v) to use the acquired concepts and to understand strategies and therapeutic targets to modulate cell death in the different diseases; vi) acquisition of research skills of recent literature on subjects taught, in order to expose and critically discuss scientific works in the area; Vii) to acquire laboratory skills and contact with methodologies currently used in the evaluation of different injury and cell death parameters.

General characterization

Code

12107

Credits

3.0

Responsible teacher

Margarida Casal Ribeiro Castro Caldas Braga

Hours

Weekly - 2

Total - 34

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

For Master students only, with solid knowledge in Cellular and Molecular Biology

Bibliography

Molecular Cell Biology. Lodish et al. 7th Ed. WH Freeman & Company, NY 2012

 Molecular Biology of the Cell. Alberts et al. 5th Ed. Garland Science, NY 2007

Scientific papers

Teaching method

Theoretical classes are based on textbooks and recent scientific literature articles. Classes are generally of the expository type, using the data show.

The theoretical-practical classes include learning the fundamentals and application of laboratory methods related to the themes of the theoretical classes and involve carrying out a research work, with respective critical analysis and discussion of learning.

Evaluation method

I) Course attendance
1. To obtain attendance at the subject, it is necessary to participate in 2 3 of the classes
theoretical practices (TP)
2. Participation in TP classes is recorded by the teacher
3. Delays of more than 20 minutes in a TP class prevent the student from attending that class
4. Absences on assessment days do not imply taking the assessment on another day
5. Medical certificates or other justification for absences will only be accepted up to one week after the
last day of absence
6. Students work in work groups, each with 4 5 students, who can be from
same course or different courses


Important information
Unjustified absences on days when results are being produced to be included in work,
implies that 1 val will be deducted from the final grade of this work for each absence; fouls
unjustified on the day of presentations, imply that the student will have 0 val in this work
In the case of justified absences, the situation will be analyzed with the group and the student, case by case.

II) Assessment:
The final classification of the subject (0-20 val) results from the sum of the classifications obtained in 3 components, which must be equal to or greater than 9.5 val:

1. Theoretical/practical assessment component: presentation of practical research work to be carried out during the TP class; 20% of the final classification, 4 val). The preparation of the work and the presentation and upload of the presentation to Moodle will be on 11/3/2023.


2. Individual quiz to be carried out during the TP class on 12/5/2023 (on paper or in Moodle) on the subject taught in previous classes, with a maximum duration of 20 min; 20% of the final classification, 4 val.
3. Project evaluation component: research work, in the form of slides for oral presentation and written script, on one of the themes proposed by the teachers (60% of the final classification, 12 val). To be delivered by 11:59 pm on 12/10/2023 (up-load in Moodle), with the presentation on 12/15/2023.

The specific rules for presentations and assignments are made available in Moodle at the beginning of classes.

The themes of the work are known in the 1st class and, preferably, in this class the students/groups should choose the topic they want to delve deeper into.

The specific rules of the work are known in the 1st class.

There are no tests or appeal exams (exame de recurso)

Melhoria e Época de recurso

During the appeal period, the project evaluation component or the improvement of this component (max grade 12 val) may be carried out, through individual or group written work on a topic proposed by the teachers.

Deadline for delivery of work submitted to Moodle:
Presentation slides: Upload the slides to Moodle (in PDF or ppt) on the day of the presentations (11/3/2023), during class. They will not be accepted after this deadline.

Research work: Until 11:59 pm on 12/10/2023, uploaded to Moodle by 1 student in the group, slides and script. Work submitted outside this deadline will be penalized by 50% of the grade if submitted within 2 working days following the stipulated deadline. They will not be accepted after this deadline.

After uploading works to Moodle, they will be checked for plagiarism using the program available at FCT (Turnitin). "Similarity reports" of submitted documents will be analyzed – they will only be accepted with < 30% similarity (cases verified individually).

Absences on assessment or work days P:

. The date of presentations and submission of work are announced at the beginning of classes and there are no alternative date(s), nor repetition of any of the assessment moments.

Subject matter

Theoretical classes

1. Oxidative stress: inducers, mechanisms involved and adaptation of cells and tissues to oxidative stress; Nrf2 system and endogenous antioxidants

2. Cell death in homeostasis and deregulation of cell death in pathological processes: necrosis, apoptosis, necroptosis and other forms of cell death.

2.1. General mechanisms of activation of the cell death process

2.2. Molecular mechanisms involved in the process of cell death

2.3. Cell organelles as modulators and targets of the processes involved in cell death

2.4. Cellular response to injury and reversibility of the cell death process

2.5. Deregulation of cell death in several pathologies: cancer, autoimmune diseases and infections

2.6. Deregulation of cell death in several pathologies: degenerative diseases.

3. Role of autophagy in the regulation of cell death.

3.1. Cell organelles as modulators and targets of the processes involved in autophagy.

4. Modulation of cell death. Development of drugs and research of therapeutic targets.

 

Practical classes

1. Evaluation of oxidative stress

2. Evaluation of cell death (apoptosis/necrosis)

3. Cell death and immune response - case studies

4. Carrying out a group research work. Presentation and discussion of the evolution of the work.