Publications by authors named "Mohamed Abd Elrahman Ahmed"

The glutamine synthetase (GS) facilitates cancer cell growth by catalyzing de novo glutamine synthesis. This enzyme removes ammonia waste from the liver following the urea cycle. Since cancer development is associated with dysregulated urea cycles, there has been no investigation of GS's role in ammonia clearance.

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Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) 3 and 9 are functionally implicated in the progression of various types of cancer, including breast cancer (BC). However, the roles of these SNPs remain controversial. In addition, they also vary between one population and another.

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Bacterial cell wall components, such LPS and LTA, are potent initiators of an inflammatory response that can lead to septic shock. The advances in the past were centered around membrane-bound receptors and intracellular events, but our understanding of the initial interactions of these bacterial components with serum proteins as they enter the bloodstream remain unclear. In this study we identified several serum proteins, which are involved in the innate recognition of bacterial products.

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Recognition of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by the innate immune system involves at least three receptor molecules: CD14, TLR4 and MD-2. Additional receptor components such as heat shock proteins, chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), or CD55 have been suggested to be part of this activation cluster; possibly acting as additional LPS transfer molecules. Our group has previously identified CXCR4 as a component of the "LPS-sensing apparatus".

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Toll-like receptors (TLR) have a key role in regulating immunity against microbial agents. Engagement of TLR by bacterial, viral or fungal components leads to the production and release of inflammatory cytokines. In this study we show that mainly TLR8 and also TLR7 act as the host sensors for human parechovirus 1, a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus.

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The group B coxsackieviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that have been implicated in viral myocarditis. Viral infection of the myocardium, as well as the associated inflammatory response are important determinants of the virus-associated myocardial damage. Although these viruses are known as cytopathic viruses that cause death of the host cell, their viral RNA has been shown to persist in cardiac muscle contributing to a chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

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