NEUROIMMUNOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE
This course focuses on the interaction between the immune and nervous systems
at
molecular, cellular and systems levels. It provides an overview of current
and
developing concepts in Neuroimmunology from both Neuroscience and Immunology
perspectives. It aims to familiarise participants with:
- The molecular and cellular elements of interconnectivity between the immune
and nervous systems and
- The effect of neuro-immuno interaction on physiological responses and
disease processes
The course comprises 10 x 3hr seminar-style sessions designed to encourage
interaction and discussion between lecturers and participants
A outline of the content and schedule for each of the seminars is indicated
below.
Session 1: Neuroimmunology: Elements of
the System(s)
10.00 � 11.15 Introduction & Overview � Clare O’Connor
|
To
cover: - Introduction to the course - Brief overview of the key aspects of the Nervous, Endocrine and Immune Systems - Introduction to elements that contribute to bidirectional communication between the immune and nervous systems � chemokines & cytokines, neuromodulators, hormones - Questions and Discussion |
11.15 � 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00 Molecular and cellular immune mediators of neuroprotection
� Antonio Campos-Torres
| To
cover: - Blood brain barrier - Homeostasis of CNS microenvironment - Questions and Discussion |
Session
2: Role of Astrocytes and Microglia in CNS function, Neuroprotection
and Neuroinflammation
10.00 � 11.15 Glial cells activation (Astrocytes and Microglia)
- Antonio Campos-Torres
| To
cover: - Post-lesional plasticity, neuroregeneration, neuroinflammation, concepts, mechanisms, cells and mediators. - Neuro-immunological aspects of glial activation, role in the CNS post-lesional plasticity and neurodegenerative diseases |
11.15
- 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00 Neuron-Glia interactions - Gethin McBean
| To
cover - Functional support for neurons by astrocytes, immunorelated protection - Metabolic trafficking, removal and inactivation of neurotransmitters - Glutamate excitotoxicity, antioxidative activity (GSH) |
13.00 � 13.20 Questions & Discussion
Session 3: Neuroendocrine modulation of the
immune response
10.00 � 11.15: Neurotransmitter modulation of leukocyte function
� Clare O’Connor
| To
cover - Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway - Neurogenic inflammation - Opioids, VIP, CGP, Substance P - Questions and Discussion |
11.15 � 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00: Neuroendocrine modulation of the mucosal immune system
� Ann Hopkins
| To
cover - Neuroendocrine (NE) inputs in the genesis of mucosal tissue and MALT antigen sampling sites - NE role in the maintenance of mucosal tissue - NE involvement in parasitic infection of mucosal surfaces - NE involvement in mucosal inflammation and repair - Questions and Discussion |
Session
4: Neuroprotective immunity
10.00 � 11.15 Innate immune responses in neuroprotection, neurodegeneration
and post-lesional plasticity -Antonio Campos-Torres
| To
cover: - Postlesional plasticity within the context of neuroinflammation - Complement cascade activation in neurons and glial cells signalling in the CNS - Questions and Discussion |
11.15 � 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00: Role of Regulatory T Cells in the CNS � Antonio
Campos-Torres
| To
cover: - Neuroprotective autoimmunity - Questions and Discussion |
Session 5: Neuroimmune
modulation of neuronal function
10.00 � 11.15 Inflammatory mediators and ion channels - Caroline
Herron
| To
cover: - Postlesional plasticity within the context of neuroinflammation - Complement cascade activation in neurons and glial cells signalling in the CNS - Questions and Discussion |
11.15
� 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00 Modulation of neurotransmitter receptor function by cytokines
- John O’Connor
| To
cover: - Il-1 beta, - TNF-alpha - Long term potentiation - Questions and Discussion |
Session
6: Neuropathology and neuroinflammation from basic science to clinical
issues - I
10.00 � 11.15: Alzheimer disease � Dominic Walsh
To
cover: - Molecular and cellular events underlying the neuropathological condition. - Use of technology and development of novel approaches to study Alzheimer disease. - Questions and Discussion |
11.15
� 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Huntington’s disease
- Gethin McBean
| To
cover: - Molecular and cellular events underlying the neuropathological condition - Use of technology and development of novel approaches to these diseases. - Questions and Discussion |
Session
7: Neuropathology and neuroinflammation from basic science to clinical
issues - II
10.00 � 11.15: Multiple Sclerosis � Michelle Armstrong
To
cover: - Molecular and cellular events underlying the neuropathological condition. - Use of technology and development of novel approaches to study Multiple Sclerosis. - Questions and Discussion |
11.15
� 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00: Therapeutic strategies & Drug discovery
� TBA
| To
cover: - Recent developments on new and improved therapies - Monoclonal approaches to the study of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, etc., - Current blue skies research |
Session
8. Examples of Neuroendocrine modulation of inflammatory disease
10.00 � 11.15: Neuroendocrine-immune regulation of rheumatoid arthritis
� Evelyn Murphy
To
cover: - Growing evidence that alterations of the stress response and interactions between the neuroendocrine and immune systems contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - Involvement of the HPA axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) - Role of Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) - Questions and Discussion |
11.15 � 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00: Acute and chronic effects of stress on the immune system
� Philip Newsholme
| To
cover: - Acute stress: Action of adrenaline on neutrophil and macrophage functions (Phagocytosis and ROS generation) - - Chronic stress: Cortisol and effect on Lymphocyte, neutrophil and macrophage function (cell proliferation, secretory activities, phagocytosis - Questions and Discussion |
Session
9. Immunomodulation and Behaviour
10.00 � 11.15: Sickness behaviour and depression � Jana Haase
To
cover: Characteristics of cytokine-induced sickness behaviour Cytokine hypothesis of depression Possible mechanisms of cytokine-induced sickness behaviour and depression � emphasis on the serotonergic system Immunmodulatory role of antidepressants? |
11.15
� 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00: A
role for immune signals in cognitive function and behaviour � Keith
Murphy
| To
cover: - Normal basal expression of immune signalling molecules in the brain in the absence of inflammation - Possible roles of immune signalling molecules in normal cognitive function - Requirement for several proinflammatory cytokines for normal memory formation - Questions and Discussion |
Session
10. Clinical Overview and Perspective on therapeutic strategies
10.00 � 11.15: Clinical overview of neurodegenerative diseases �
Gavin Rush
To
cover: - Introduction to clinical neurology � history, examination and investigation. - Degenerative diseases affecting the cerebral cortex � focus on dementia, clinical presentation (history and examination) of various categories of dementia and clinical diagnosis - Degenerative disease of the basal ganglia and brain stem � Parkinsonism, clinical presentation, history and examination. - Huntingtons Disease � clinical presentation and features - Spinocerebellar degenerations - Degenerative diseases affecting motor neurons |
11.15
� 11.30 COFFEE
11.30 � 13.00: Clinical perspective on current and developing therapeutic
strategies for neuroimmunological
diseases � Gavin Rush
| To
cover: - From the lab to the bedside, a discussion on clinical use of immunological based treatments for CNS disease - Questions and Discussion |