Link to
Dr.Usta's FMIS Profile
Research Area
- Metabolic
Inherited disorders: phenotype-Genotype correlations: Wilson disease,
Phenyl ketonuria, Urea cycle disorder: OTC
- Toxicity of Copper chelator penicillamine on Iron
homeostasis. Implications on Wilson Disease
- Cholesterol metabolism: a) The Hypo-cholesterolemic effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous extract in vitro and in silico
studies; b) Coenzyme Q a potential regulator of the
mevalonate pathway; c) Statins’ effect
on neuronal cells implication on neuro-degeneration
- Anti -cancerous effect of natural products: linalool,
eugenol, cinnamaldehyde
- Mitochondriotoxins: Effects of environmental, Food
additives, cosmetic chemicals on Cellular Bioenergetics and mitochondrial
function
- Metabolic role of the Pentose Phosphate pathway in
cancer
Selected Publication
On Cancer Metabolism (pentose phosphate pathway)
- Therapeutic Targeting of the Pentose Phosphate Patway in Colorectal Cancer Using 6-Aminonicotinamide and 5-Fluorouracil. Israa Ahmad Cheikh, Berthe Hayar, Noorhan Ghanem, Lara Al Saleh, Chirine El-Baba, Sadaf Al-Hadeethi, Riyad El Khoury, Julnar Usta, Nadine Darwiche. Molecular Carcinogenesis 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/mc.23920
- Mannose Inhibits the pentose phosphate Pathway in colorectal Cancer and enhances sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil therapy Sadaf Al Hadeethi, Chirine El-Baba, Khaled Araji, Berthe Hayar, Israa Ahmad Cheikh, Riyad El-Khoury, Julnar Usta and Nadine Darwiche Cancers, 2023, 15,2268. https//doi.org/10.3390/cancers15082268
- The Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Cancer: Regulation and Therapeutic opportunities: Noorhan Ghanem, Chirine El-Baba, Khaled Araji, Riyad El-Khoury, Julnar Usta, Nadine Darwiche Chemotherapy, 2021, DOI: 10.1159/000519784
ON Wilson disease, copper toxicity, Phenotype-genotype correlations- Wilson disease in Lebanon and regional countries: Homozygosity and hepatic phenotype predominance. Kassem Barada, Aline El Haddad, Meghri Katerji, Mustapha Jomaa and Julnar Usta. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 23(36):6715-6725, 2017
- Chemosensitivity of U251cells to the co-treatment of D-penicillamine and copper: Possible implication on Wilson disease patients. Katerji M., Barada K., Joumaa M., Kobeissy F., Makkawi A-k., Abou-Kheir W., Usta J. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 2017 Jan31;10:10
- Phenotype-Genotype correlation in Wilson Disease in a large Lebanese family: Association of c.2299insC with hepatic and of p.Ala1003Thr with neurologic phenotype. Usta J, Wehbeh A, Rida K, El-Rifai O, Estiphan TA, Majarian T, Barada K. PLoS One. Nov 12;9(11); 2014. e109727.
- Spectrum of mutations in Lebanese patients with phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency: Karam PE, Al-Hamra RS , Nemer G, Usta J .GENE, Feb15;515 (1): 117-122, 2013.
- Homozygosity for non-H1069Q Missense Mutations in ATP7B Gene and Early Severe Liver Disease: Report of Two families and a Meta-analysis. Usta J, Abu Daya H, Halawi H, Al-Shareef I, El-Rifai O, Malli AH, Sharara AI, Habib RH, Barada K. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Diseases.Research Reports; 4: 129- 137, 2012.
- Homozygous mutations in the conserved ATP hinge region of the Wilson disease gene: Association with liver disease.
Barada K, El-Atrache M, El-Hajj I, Rida K, El-Hajjar J, Mahfoud Z, Usta J. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterolgy; 44 (6): 432-439, 2010.
- Copper adenine complex a compound with multi-biochemical targets and potential anti-cancer effect. Hammoud HH, Nemer G, Sawma W, Touma J, Barnabe P, Bou-Moughlabey Y, Ghannoum A,; El-Hajjar J, Usta J. Chemico-Biological Interactions; 173(2): 84-96, 2008.
- Early and Severe Liver disease associated with homozygosity for an exon-7 Mutation, G691R, in Wilson's Disease Barada K, Nemer G, El-Hajj II, Touma J, Cortas N, Boustany RM , Usta J. Clinical Genetics; 72(3):264-7, 2007.
ON Copper and Iron Homeostasis
- A New Member of the Vertebrate Multi-copper Ferroxidase Family Chen H, Attieh Z, Syed BA, Kuo YM, Stevens V, Fuqua BK, Andersen HS, Naylor CE, Evans RW, Gambling L, Danzeisen R, Bacouri-Haidar M, Usta J, Vulpe CD, McArdle HJ . Zyklopen, Journal of Nutrition; 140(10):1728-1735, 2010.
- Hephaestin is a ferroxidase that maintains partial activity in the sex linked anemia mice. Chen H, Attieh ZK, Su T, Syed BA, Gao H, Alaeddine RM, Fox TC, Usta J, Naylor CE, Evans RW, McKie AT, Anderson GJ, Vulpe CD. Blood, May15; 103(10) 3933-9, 2004
Natural products : Anti cancerous and Mitochondriotoxins
- Protective effect of sorafenib against 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine-induced colorectal cancer in Balb/c Mice. M. Al Hassan, M. Al Battal, J. Usta, J. Borjac, Oncology and Radiotherapy, Vol 15, Iss8:18-24, 2021
- Effect of adoptive T Cell Therapy on Colon Cancer Growth and Angiogenesis: an in vitro and in vivo study. Mirna Bou Hamdan, Michel Massaad, Julnar Usta , Jamila Borjac,Teikyo Medical Journal: Volume 44, Issue 05, 2021, ISSN:03875547
- Effect of adaptive T cell Therapy on VEGF signaling pathway in DMH-induced colon cancer in balb/c mice. Bou Hamdan M, Massaad M, Usta J, Borjac J, Oncology and Radiotherapy: Vol 15 iss 2:001-008, 2021
- Effect of sorafenib on Human Colon Cancer cells. Marwa Al-Hassan, Farah Reda, Ali Baltaji, Julnar Usta, Jamila Borjac, BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing, Volume 3, iss2, article 7; ISSN:2617-1635, 2021
- Moringa oleifera leaves aqueous extract Induce apoptosis in HT29 cell line. F Reda , J. Borjac J. Usta, BAU Journal-Science and Technology: volume 2 Issue 1, 2020
- Chemosensitivity of MC7 cells to eugenol : release of cytochrome c and Lactate dehydrogenase. Al Wafai R., El-Rabih W., Safi R., El Sabban M., Katerji M., El-Rifai O., Usta J. Scientific Reports, 2017 Mar 8;7:43730
- Phytochemical study and the antiproliferative activity of inula vulgaris species grown in Lebanon. Assi M., Usta J., Mounimne Y., Aboul-Ela M., and El Lakany A, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Volume 9 issue 8 2017
- Cytotoxic effect of Moringa oleifera on colon cancerr cell lines F. Reda, Borjac J., Fakhouri R., Usta J, Acta Horticularae 1158;2017
- Moringa Oleifera's nutritious aqueous leaf extract has anti-cancerous effects on lung cancer cells by compromising mitochondrial viability in ROS dependent manner. Madi N, Dany M, Abdoun S, Usta J, Journal of American College of Nutrition: 35(7):604-613, 2016
- Fragrant chemicals lyral and lilial decrease viability of HaCat cells by increasing free radical production and lowering intracellular ATP level: protection by antioxidants. Usta J, Hachem Y, Al-Rifai O, Bou-Mouglabey Y, Echtay K, GriffithsD, Nakkash-Chmaisse H, Fakhoury-Makki R. Toxicology in Vitro, Feb 27(1): 339–348, 2013.
- Linalool decreases HepG2 viability by inhibiting mitochondrial Complexes I and II, increasing reactive oxygen species and decreasing ATP and GSH levels.Usta J, Kreydiyyeh S, Knio K, Barnabe P, Bou-Moughlabay Y, Dagher S. Chemico-Biological Interaction; 180 (1): 39-46, 2009
- In Vitro Effect of Eugenol and Cinnamaldehyde on Membrane Potential and Respiratory Chain Complexes in Isolated Rat Liver Mitochondria. Usta J, Kreydiyyeh S, Badjakian K, Nakkach–Chmaisse H. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 40 (7): 935-940, 2002.
- Comparative Study on the Effect of Cinnamon and Clove Extracts and Their Main Components on Different Types of ATPases. Usta J, Kreydiyyeh S, Barnaba P, Bou-Moughlabey Y, Nakkach-Chmaisse H. Human and Experimental Toxicology; 22(7): 355-62, 2003.
Awards
- Best presentation award Biomedical Research Day, Faculty of Medicine AUB, (2013). Water extract of Moringa oleifera leaves induces apoptosis in human alveolar adenocarcinoma cells A549. Madi N, Dany M., El-Rifai O, Abdoun S, Usta J.
- Fulbright Scholarship , University of Duke, Durham, North Carolina (2004)
- Award of Honor, Teacher of the year.SRC Medicine AUB (2001-2002)
- Royal Society of Chemistry, Research awards, University of Warwick, Dept of chemistry UK (1990/1991/1992/1993/1994)
- Al-Hariri Foundation Award: Post-doctoral training in England: Warwick University, UK