Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram

Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram

School of Medicine, ZhejiangUniversity, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
+1
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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25 March 2022 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IBIqra Bano
Iqra Bano
Pavel HorkyPavel Horky
Pavel Horky
SASyed Qamar Abbas
Syed Qamar Abbas
MMMuhammad Majid
Muhammad Majid
HAHafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
Simona BungăuSimona Bungău
Simona Bungău
Ferroptosis is a recently described programmed cell death mechanism that is characterized by the buildup of iron (Fe)-dependent lipid peroxides in cells and is morphologically, biochemically, and genetically distinct from other forms of cell death, having emerged to play an important role in cancer biology. Ferroptosis has significant importance during cancer treatment because of the combination of factors, including suppression of the glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4), cysteine deficiency, and arachidonoyl (AA) peroxidation, which cause cells to undergo ferroptosis. However, the physiological significance of ferroptosis throughout development is still not fully understood. This current review is focused on the factors and molecular mechanisms with the diagrammatic illustrations of ferroptosis that have a role in the initiation and sensitivity of ferroptosis in various malignancies. This knowledge will open a new road for research in oncology and cancer management.

25 March 2022 in Frontiers in Pharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
HAHafiz Akbar Ali
Hafiz Akbar Ali
YLYalan Li
Yalan Li
HAHafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
TQTingting Qin
Tingting Qin
ZYZiqiao Yuan
Ziqiao Yuan
WZWen Zhao
Wen Zhao
Epigenetic modifications, specifically acetylation of histone plays a decisive role in gene regulation and transcription of normal cellular mechanisms and pathological conditions. The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT), being epigenetic readers, ligate to acetylated regions of histone and synchronize gene transcription. BET proteins are crucial for normal cellular processing as they control cell cycle progression, neurogenesis, differentiation, and maturation of erythroids and spermatogenesis, etc. Research-based evidence indicated that BET proteins (mainly BRD4) are associated with numeral pathological ailments, including cancer, inflammation, infections, renal diseases, and cardiac diseases. To counter the BET protein-related pathological conditions, there are some BET inhibitors developed and also under development. BET proteins are a topic of most research nowadays. This review, provides an ephemeral but comprehensive knowledge about BET proteins’ basic structure, biochemistry, physiological roles, and pathological conditions in which the role of BETs have been proven. This review also highlights the current and future approaches to pledge BET protein-related pathologies.

1 February 2023 in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SAShireen Aziz
Shireen Aziz
LYLi Yalan
Li Yalan
MRMuhammad Ahmer Raza
Muhammad Ahmer Raza
JLJiao Lemin
Jiao Lemin
HAHafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
WZWen Zhao
Wen Zhao
Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathological companion of various cardiovascular diseases. To date, the role of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in cancer has been well demonstrated including in renal carcinoma and its inhibitors have entered the stage of phase I/II clinical trials. However, the precise mechanism of EZH2 in cardiac diseases is largely unclear. In the current study, we first found that EZH2 expression was increased in Ang-II-treated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and mouse heart homogenates following isoproterenol (ISO) administration for 21 days, respectively. Ang-II induces CFs activation and increased collagen-I, collagen-III, α-SMA, EZH2, and trimethylates lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3) expressions can be reversed by EZH2 inhibitor (GSK126) and EZH2 siRNA. The ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis in vivo which were also related to the upregulation of EZH2 and its downstream target, H3K27me3, could be recovered by GSK126. Furthermore, the upregulation of EZH2 induces the decrease of paired box 6 (PAX6) and C-X-C motif ligand 10 (CXCL10) “which” were also reversed by GSK126 treatment. In summary, the present evidence strongly suggests that GSK126 could be a therapeutic intervention, blunting the development and progression of myocardial fibrosis in an EZH2-PAX6-CXCL10-dependent manner.

24 September 2025 in Bioorganic Chemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
HAHafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Akram
YLYulin Liu
Yulin Liu
JDJianshu Dong
Jianshu Dong
XZXueke Zhao
Xueke Zhao
LWLidong Wang
Lidong Wang
CHCong Han
Cong Han