Pharmacogenetics and Epigenetics in Toxicology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the basic knowledge to understand the genetic basis of the differences in metabolic processes that influence individual responses to xenobiotic.
Furthermore, it will set the theoretical basis for understanding how these individual responses might be influenced by the epigenoma.
The concepts of genetic and epigenetic mutations will be developed to understand how these mutations contribute to the inter-individual susceptibility to xenobiotic. The course will also provides the principles of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics with the goal to show when and how the genetic factors, defined at different levels from chromosomes to single nucleotide, plays a role in the variability of Mendelian and complex diseases, and in the variability of drug-response.
Furthermore, it will set the theoretical basis for understanding how these individual responses might be influenced by the epigenoma.
The concepts of genetic and epigenetic mutations will be developed to understand how these mutations contribute to the inter-individual susceptibility to xenobiotic. The course will also provides the principles of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics with the goal to show when and how the genetic factors, defined at different levels from chromosomes to single nucleotide, plays a role in the variability of Mendelian and complex diseases, and in the variability of drug-response.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will know the basics of the genetic and epigenetic processes that regulate the physiological mechanisms in living organisms and how xenobiotics are able to interfere with these processes by altering the cellular phenotype; students will also be provided with the basics of the main methods and laboratory techniques useful for evaluating genetic and epigenetic modifications. At the end of the course the student will have acquired the necessary knowledge to evaluate the complexity of the interaction between xenobiotics and higher organisms as a result of processes, interconnected with each other, that occur at the molecular, genetic and epigenetic level. Students will also be able to critically review the scientific literature devoted to the genetic and epigenetic aspects of the exposure of organisms above xenobiotics.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
-Genetics: historical perspectives, principles, the concept of "variant"/"mutation"
-Genetics population: Genome Wide Association Studies and Mendelian Randomization studies
-Genetic polymorphism in xenobiotic metabolism
-Towards the concept of "personalized medicine"
-Epigenetics: the organization of machinery for the control of the activity of the eukaryotic genome
- Pharmacological modulation of epigenetics
- epigenetics- Environmental pollutants
- epigenetics- Diet
- Microbiota and metabolism of xenobiotics
- The concept of pharmaco/toxico-genomics
- "omics" tools to study the interaction between genetics, epigenetics, and environment
- Aging and epigenetic clocks
-System biology in cardiovascular diseases
-System biology in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases
-Genetics population: Genome Wide Association Studies and Mendelian Randomization studies
-Genetic polymorphism in xenobiotic metabolism
-Towards the concept of "personalized medicine"
-Epigenetics: the organization of machinery for the control of the activity of the eukaryotic genome
- Pharmacological modulation of epigenetics
- epigenetics- Environmental pollutants
- epigenetics- Diet
- Microbiota and metabolism of xenobiotics
- The concept of pharmaco/toxico-genomics
- "omics" tools to study the interaction between genetics, epigenetics, and environment
- Aging and epigenetic clocks
-System biology in cardiovascular diseases
-System biology in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases
Prerequisites for admission
The fundamentals of cellular, molecular biology and toxicology and cell biology, acquired with the participation to the Master program, will be required to attend this Course.
Teaching methods
The course is divided into a series of front lessons with slide projection in Power Point. The lectures slides will be loaded on the specific MyAriel platform of the Course.
Teaching Resources
Slides presented during the Course are the main material. The slides will be shared with students via the dedicated MyAriel platform only. No other channels will be considered.
Scientific papers and reviews relevant for the Course, to which students can access via Pubmed by using the personal Unimi credentials, are useful both as a support for improving the knowledge of specific concepts, and a material for preparing the Powerpoint presentation for the Exam.
Here are some bibliographic references, that could help students to recover some basic fundamentals of biology, pharmacology and toxicology:
(i) "Farmacologia - Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche, IV Ed." Rossi F, Cuomo V, Riccardi C. ISBN: 978-88-7711-995-7, 2020 Edizioni Minerva Medica S.p.A. Corso Bramante, 83/85 - 10126 Torino;
(ii) "Biologia molecolare della cellula, settima Edizione" Bruce Alberts Rebecca Heald Alexander Johnson David Morgan Martin Raff Keith Roberts Peter Walter. A cura di Aldo Pagano. ISBN: 9788808399694. 2024 Zanichelli editore S.p.A., Via Irnerio, 34, 40126 Bologna;
(iii) "Encyclopedia of Toxicology, 4th edition, 9 volume set" 4th Edition. ISBN: 9780128243152 October 25, 2023 Imprint: Academic Press Editor: Philip Wexler
Scientific papers and reviews relevant for the Course, to which students can access via Pubmed by using the personal Unimi credentials, are useful both as a support for improving the knowledge of specific concepts, and a material for preparing the Powerpoint presentation for the Exam.
Here are some bibliographic references, that could help students to recover some basic fundamentals of biology, pharmacology and toxicology:
(i) "Farmacologia - Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche, IV Ed." Rossi F, Cuomo V, Riccardi C. ISBN: 978-88-7711-995-7, 2020 Edizioni Minerva Medica S.p.A. Corso Bramante, 83/85 - 10126 Torino;
(ii) "Biologia molecolare della cellula, settima Edizione" Bruce Alberts Rebecca Heald Alexander Johnson David Morgan Martin Raff Keith Roberts Peter Walter. A cura di Aldo Pagano. ISBN: 9788808399694. 2024 Zanichelli editore S.p.A., Via Irnerio, 34, 40126 Bologna;
(iii) "Encyclopedia of Toxicology, 4th edition, 9 volume set" 4th Edition. ISBN: 9780128243152 October 25, 2023 Imprint: Academic Press Editor: Philip Wexler
Assessment methods and Criteria
An oral exam will verify the knowledge of the contents, and the skills developed in the Course. The Exam will include: (i) the first part, in which students will be asked to present, supported by PowerPoint slides, a recent study from the literature or a topic of interest for the Course; (ii) the second part, where an interview regarding the scientific contents of the Course will be verified. Students will pass the exam with an equal or minimum score of 18 points.
Exam slots will be predetermined by the professor and no extra slots for individual needs will be allowed. To attend the Exam in one of the proposed slots, students must register through the common UNIMIA portal.
Exam slots will be predetermined by the professor and no extra slots for individual needs will be allowed. To attend the Exam in one of the proposed slots, students must register through the common UNIMIA portal.
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment (email)
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", via Balzaretti 9, Milano