Molecular and Cellular Toxicology

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/XM_0113

Course Objective

Students will gain knowledge on various ways cells can be compromised by exposure to exogenous chemicals, how they defend themselves against specific perturbations and the methodological aspects in determining and quantifying these processes.

Course Content

Exposure of cells to chemicals (including drugs and drug metabolites) can cause perturbations compromising the cells’ ability to function which may lead to cell death and tissue injury eventually compromising health. The course will introduce and expand on such concepts including cell injury processes, cell death, cellular defence mechanisms (e.g. p53 pathway, Nrf2 pathway, unfolded protein responses), mitochondrial toxicity and immunotoxicity. The following aspects will be explored:
• types of adverse drug reactions,
• role of xenobiotic biotransformation (metabolism) transport in adverse drug reactions and nuclear receptors,
• reversible and irreversible interactions of toxic drugs with biological macromolecules,
• stress response pathways
- cellular adaptation to exposure to chemicals and reactive oxygen species;
• cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to toxic effects,
• mitochondrial toxicity,
• immune-mediated toxicity,
• cellular in vitro models used in toxicity studies,
• cellular assays used to detect stress-responses and mitochondrial dysfunction including transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and self-study.

Method of Assessment

Written exam

Literature

will be provided.

Target Audience

mDDS, mBMS, mCHEM

Recommended background knowledge

Bachelor Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences , Medical Natural, Sciences, Medical Biology or equivalent.