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Title Immunometabolism: Implications for Health and Disease
Course number 5214
Programme 1-Ingår i flera program
Language English
Credits 1.5
Date 2021-09-13 -- 2021-09-17
Responsible KI department Institutionen för medicin, Solna
Specific entry requirements Basic knowledge of immunology (corresponding to the KI doctoral education course Basic Immunology, 3 hp), molecular biology and biochemistry is required.
Purpose of the course This course intends to provide doctoral students an in-depth knowledge on the emerging field of immunometabolism, more specifically, the interplay between immunological and metabolic processes. This will add an extra dimension to our understanding of the immune system in health and disease.
Intended learning outcomes After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
1. Identify the concept of immunometabolism and differentiate it from other types of cellular metabolisms.
2. Summarize a number of different mechanisms that modulate the metabolism of the immune response in a healthy state.
3. Understand the molecular mechanisms underlying energy metabolism and immunology into the development of metabolic and inflammatory diseases.
4. Compare and contrast scientific papers in the immunometabolism field into a coherent conclusion.
5. Argue and judge scientific data about immunometabolism and the application on inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
6. Design a research proposal based on acquired knowledge during lectures and through a search of the scientific literature.
Contents of the course Our understanding of molecular pathways that govern metabolism and immunology has evolved largely in parallel. However, current evidence points to a close interplay between immunological and metabolic processes. It is now clear that the behavior of cells of our immune system including monocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes is largely determined by the status of their intracellular energy metabolism.

This course will provide an in-depth knowledge about immunometabolism. The course will specifically focus on the molecular mechanisms of metabolism, such as oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis that underlie immune cell functioning.
Furthermore, the concept of immunometabolism will be applied to various pathological conditions ranging from host defense against infections, cancer and cardiometabolic diseases and related complications. Of note, during the course it will be discussed how targeting of metabolism in immune cells can lead to tangible therapeutic advancements.
Teaching and learning activities Lectures, project group work, presentation by participants.
Compulsory elements Examination is compulsory to pass the course.
Examination To pass the course, the participant has to:
1) Give a presentation about the research proposal in a seminar.
2) Discuss the presented proposal in a seminar and actively engage in discussing other participants' presentations related to different aspects of immunometabolism.
3) Pass a written exam recapitulating the course's content.
Literature and other teaching material Recommended reading:
1. O'Neill, L. A. J., Kishton, R. J., & Rathmell, J. A guide to immunometabolism for immunologists. Nature Reviews Immunology (2016).
2. Ketelhuth, D. F. J., Lutgens, E., Bäck, M., Binder, C. J., Van den Bossche, J., Daniel, C., et al. Immunometabolism and atherosclerosis: perspectives and clinical significance: a position paper from the Working Group on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology of the European Society of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Research (2019).
3. Pearce, E. L., & Pearce, E. J. Metabolic pathways in immune cell activation and quiescence. Immunity (2013).
4. Mathis, D., & Shoelson, S. E. Immunometabolism: an emerging frontier. Nature Reviews Immunology (2011).
Number of students 8 - 30
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (according to written motivation), 2) start date of doctoral studies (priority given to earlier start date)
More information This course is given jointly by the doctoral programmes Cardiovascular Research (CVR), Allergy, immunology and inflammation (Aii) and Metabolism and Endocrinology (MetEndo). See: https://staff.ki.se/doctoral-programmes
Additional course leader
Latest course evaluation Course evaluation report
Course responsible Maria Forteza de los Reyes
Institutionen för medicin, Solna
0704608018
maria.forteza.de.los.reyes@ki.se

Akademiska stråket, 1

17164
Solna
Contact person Daniel Ketelhuth
Institutionen för medicin, Solna

Daniel.Ketelhuth@ki.se