Exercise and Clinical Immunology

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/B_EXCLINIM

Course Objective

The purpose of the course Exercise and Clinical Immunology is to introduce students into the etiology of major chronic diseases in which local or systemic inflammation and/or a compromised adaptive immune response plays a substantial role. Students will be acquainted with the basic principles and working mechanisms of the immune system and how dysregulation thereof is involved in the etiology of chronic diseases. Over the last decade, it has become clear that regular exercise positively modulates the immune system. During this course, students will get acquainted with this exciting new area of exercise immunology. The contribution of the immune system, and new mechanisms via which physical exercise affect the immune system will be discussed in the context of a variety of chronic diseases. Students will explore the current state of knowledge on the role of the immune system and exercise in the development of the diseases discussed and report by writing a literature essay.

Course Content

Physical exercise affects the immune system directly, or indirectly via the production of growth factors, cytokines and myokines, that have autocrine, paracrine and/or endocrine consequences. This (in)direct biochemical cross-talk between distant organs and the immune system is an upcoming field within exercise physiology, students will learn to address key future experiments that should be performed to better understand the molecular consequences of exercise on the immune system. This course provides a basis in immunology, combined by a series of lectures in which clinical signs and symptoms of these diseases and the role of the immune system will be explained and discussed. Textbook knowledge will be combined with recent research data by clinical and fundamental scientists. In the first two lectures, students will obtain sufficient knowledge to understand the role of the immune system, innate immunity, adaptive immunity and vaccination. Subsequently, local high-profile scientists with fundamental or clinical expertise in a variety of chronic diseases will give students background information on the pathophysiology and the contribution of the immune system and the modulating role of exercise. Some chronic diseases are associated with an increased mortality, and exercise is known to positively affect this relationship, possibly via modulation of the immune system. Various chronic diseases will be discussed by clinicians and basic scientists. At the end of this course the student:
• has knowledge of the basic components and function of the immune system.
• has knowledge of several chronic diseases in which a compromised or insufficient immune system plays a role.
• has knowledge of the potential (molecular) processes via which physical exercise affects the pathophysiology of a variety of chronic diseases, as well as the contributing role of the immune system.
• Has written a concise, research-orientated essay in which the role of the immune system in a disease (discussed during the lecture) and contribution of (regular) exercise is integrated. Students are able to present the information in a logic and coherent way answering the main questions and convince the reader of their conclusions.
• Has presented convincingly the main results of his/her literature study in an oral presentation.

Teaching Methods

(30 hrs / 15 lectures, 8 hrs / 2 sessions with presentations, 120 hrs preparation for contact hours and exam. 1. The course consists of a series of guest lectures given by clinicians or fundamental researchers with scientific background in the disease. The pathophysiology of the disease, major symptoms and the role of the immune system will be introduced, and students will become introduced in the upcoming research field of exercise immunology in this disease. Since lectures cover a wide range of diseases, students are expected to read the papers (see CANVAS) beforehand. 2. Students will write a research essay about one of the diseases that is covered in the lectures. 3. The attendance of a face-to-face (or virtual if abroad) version of the workshop “Giving an audience-focused presentation” is compulsory. In this workshop, Karin Herrebout from Greep (a Management and Organization development company) will give a 4 h (or 2x 2 hours online) workshop to improve your presentation skills. Homework for this workshop: prepare a 2 minute text about the background information and aims of your research essay. 4. At the end of the course, each student will give a presentation about the outcomes of his/her literature research. After each presentation there is room for a group discussion. 5. There will be an exam at the end of the course. If the exam cannot be organized on campus, this will be done online via the University Proctoring System (details later).

Method of Assessment

The assessment consists of three parts:
- Short essay questions
- Writing a research essay
- Oral presentation about the topic of the research essay.

Literature

The reading material consists of lecture notes, power point slides and scientific papers and lecture notes, which will all be made available at Canvas.

Entry Requirements

The student should have basic knowledge and understanding of physiology, molecular biology and exercise physiology.