Amr Raafat

Dr. Amr Raafat


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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19 August 2025 in Cells
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FHFasilat Oluwakemi Hassan
Fasilat Oluwakemi Hassan
Md Monirul HoqueMd Monirul Hoque
Md Monirul Hoque
Abdul MajidAbdul Majid
Abdul Majid
JGJoy Olaoluwa Gbadegoye
Joy Olaoluwa Gbadegoye
ARAmr Raafat
Amr Raafat
Djamel LebecheDjamel Lebeche
Djamel Lebeche
This review highlights the emerging functional implications of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in human diseases, with a focus on its therapeutic potential for cardiovascular disease. NMD, conserved from yeast to humans, is involved in apoptosis, autophagy, cellular differentiation, and gene expression regulation. NMD is a highly conserved surveillance mechanism that degrades mRNAs containing premature termination codons (PTCs) located upstream of the final exon-exon junction. NMD serves to prevent the translation of aberrant mRNA and prevents the formation of defective protein products that could result in diseases. Key players in this pathway include up-frameshift proteins (UPFs), nonsense-mediated mRNA decay associated with p13K-related kinases (SMGs), and eukaryotic release factors (eRFs), among others. Dysregulation of NMD has been linked to numerous pathological conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy, cancer, viral infections, and various neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders. This review will examine the regulatory mechanisms by which NMD regulation or dysregulation may contribute to disease mitigation or progression and its potential for cardiovascular disease therapy. We will further explore how modulating NMD could prevent the outcomes of mutations underlying genetically induced cardiovascular conditions and its applications in personalized medicine due to its role in gene regulation. While recent advances have provided valuable insights into NMD machinery and its therapeutic potential, further studies are needed to clarify the precise roles of key NMD components in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.