METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO TEACHING THE PRINCIPLES OF TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF INFLAMMATION AS A TYPICAL PATHOLOGICAL PROCESS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Abstract

Inflammation is a typical pathological process that develops as a result of an injury and aimed at eliminating the damaging agent and restoring the integrity of the body. Students of the II (Master) level first encounter the concept of "inflammation" at the Department of Pathophysiology when studying the module I "General Pathophysiology". Basic textbooks on the discipline "Pathophysiology" comprehensively provide information on inflammation as a typical pathological process and distinguish generally accepted stages of this process, though a limited amount of data on the participation of specific transcription factors in the regulation of inflammation is represented. This causes difficulty for medical students when studying additional literature and learning lecture material. Understanding the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of inflammation will help students to correctly diagnose the stages of this process and thus plan rational intervention to manage it. This can contribute to the quality of medical education and, in the long term, the quality of medical services.
 The purpose of this work is to develop a methodological approach to teaching the principles of transcriptional regulation of inflammation at the Department of Pathophysiology. The analysis of literature sources showed a certain antagonism between NF-kB and Nrf-2 at the stage of alteration. The predominance of Nrf-2 will reduce the intensity of secondary alteration, while the predominance of NF-kB will increase it. At the stage of exudation, another important transcription factor, namely AP-1, is added to the regulation of inflammation. Its role depends on the stimulation of cells by certain regulatory agents. To provide optimal conditions for repair of the damaged area, NF-kB activation should be reduced, Nrf-2 activation should be increased, and AP-1 should be activated via p38. Methodological approach to teaching the principles of transcriptional regulation of inflammation at the department of pathophysiology should include: emphasis on the importance of specific transcription factors in the regulation of cellular processes; schematically justified relationship and functional antagonism of transcription factors NF-kB and Nrf-2 at the stage of alteration; discussion regarding the ambiguous role of the transcription factor AP-1 in maintaining and stopping exudation; evidence of the need for the predominance of Nrf-2 and AP-1 activation for the full recovery of damaged tissue during proliferation.